The Red Convertible is a short story from the American anthology of The Love Medicine written by Louise Edrich and published in 1984. It uses lots of symbolism in bringing out his educative ideas. It uses Lyman Lamartine, as the narrator, to give an in depth account of his turbulent relationships with his brother, Henry who drastically changes after spending serving as a soldier in Vietnam.
In his own words, Lyman reports that after his three year service as a soldier in Vietnam, Henry comes back a totally transformed personality. He no longer sees value in his blood family and the kind of blissful relationship they used to have (page, 411). He seems to be mentally tortured and withdrawn from them. Moreover, he fails to acknowledge the important role of their initially cherished flamboyant red convertible car he co-owned with his brother.
As the story unfolds, the two become violent and directly engage in a physical fight. This divides them a part, prompting the drowning of Henry and the car because. When Lynman had sunk, Henry decided to get rid of the car because ‘it was no longer important to me (page, 413).
As already highlighted, Louise, in his attempt to deliver his message to the readers, makes an intensive use of the figurative language. More specifically, the use of a car is quieted symbolic because it provokes the readers’ mind and makes them be deeply involved in the story. So, using the convertible red car symbolizes the following:
Besides, Lyman’s attempt to repair the car symbolizes his struggles to repair the damaged characters of his brother. As he narrates, Henry came back as a totally different man who was now showing weird behaviors he never done before. In other words, he was mentally disturbed and was now leading a totally different kind of life that nobody was happy about. Therefore, Lyman tried to transform him to his former position that they were all happy about. This is what is represented by the boy’s struggles to repair the damaged car which had been neglected in the garage for a period of three years when Lyman, one of his owners was away.
In addition, the use of the car is symbolic because, during the entire period of the war, it was ‘left alone in the garage’ (page, 397) with no one to care for it. This was symbolizing the physical separation of the two brothers. Whereas Lyman was at home, Henry was serving his country as a soldier in Vietnam. However, this friendship is only rekindled when Henry comes back from war during the time when they again decide to be united. They are joined together when Henry is successfully lured by his brother to change his mind and start using the car. Eventually, they end up reviving their old friendship when they decide to take a ride across the town. This gives them more hopes as they aspire to be reunited together in remembrance of the old good days.
Consequently, the car symbolizes the turbulent relationship between the two brothers and that of the soldiers and the general society. As usual, people in the war torn countries always experience a harsh treatment by the military personnel deployed to serve them. This is what was signified when the car could at times make the two friends to view one another as an enemy. For instance, Henry almost physically confronted his brother over the car’s ownership when he was pleading with him to assume a full ownership of the red convertible. Henry insisted that, ‘I can not assume the ownership of this car because I no longer need it. Just take it(page, 407).
Finally, the eventual sinking of the car (page, 412) was signifying a total loss for the boys. It showed that the two brothers had lost something very essential to them. Just before this incident, Henry is robbed of his beloved brother who had been giving hi a company for a long time. These tragedies represent a permanent disconnection between them. The cordial friendship they once enjoyed would no longer be there. It is drowned, killed and lost forever. That is why the story ends by a furious retaliatory act of Lyman throwing away their car to sink after the death of his brother. I surely, it will be a perpetual irreversible loss to him.
The Red Convertible Essay Examples
Type of paper: Essay
Topic: Literature, War, Psychology, Relationships, Veterans, Friendship, Vehicles, Vietnam
Pages: 3
Words: 750
Published: 2020/01/03
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