The war doesn’t end when soldiers come home; for many, the battle continues in their minds. In Louise Erdrich's "The Red Convertible," Henry, a young man whose happy spirit is crushed by the horror of Vietnam, reveals the haunting aftermath of war. Henry, who was once vibrant and close to his brother, returns to his life changed beyond recognition due to the crippling consequences of post-traumatic stress disorder. Erdrich eloquently illustrates how PTSD tears apart Henry's identity and imprisons him in the horrors of war long after the fighting finishes. Henry shows he is suffering with Post-traumatic stress disorder through his struggles with emotional numbness, hypervigilance, destructive behavior, and irritability and aggression. After …show more content…
Now, anger and frustration seem to overwhelm him at any moment. Lyman remembers a moment when Henry “grabs my jacket and rips the arm loose” (Erdrich 5), showcasing how quickly irritation can escalate into violence. This loss of control illustrates the emotional instability that PTSD often causes, where even small triggers can lead to sudden, intense outbursts. Research has shown that "dysregulated anger and heightened levels of aggression are prominent among Veterans and civilians with posttraumatic stress disorder" (“Anger and PTSD”). Henry’s aggression becomes even more evident when he “rushed from the chair and shoved me against the wall” (Erdrich 3). This rapid and forceful reaction highlights his inability to regulate his emotions, especially under stress. Henry's increased irritability, combined with his inability to manage conflict or distress, reflects a key symptom of PTSD-related violence. His lack of control over these aggressive urges underscores the profound psychological damage the war has inflicted on him. This transformation into someone unpredictable and volatile is a painful contrast to the joyful, carefree person he once