The Red Convertible Analysis

“The Red Convertible”, written by Louise Edrich, tells the story of the relationship between two brothers, which is later destroyed by the nature of war. Lyman and Henry, the main characters in the story, developed an inseparable bond through a red convertible, as they drove all around the country in search of adventure. As Lyman recounts this tale to remember his brother, the use of symbolism reveals multiple aspects of the story. The red convertible, Henry’s war garments, and the picture of the two brothers are symbols that make the story complete by providing a view of their lives and personality. The red convertible is portrayed as the most important symbol in the story because it represents the relationship between the main characters. The story begins with Lyman declaring that he used to own a red convertible with his brother Henry. The convertible is introduced as something he used to own with his brother, and something that was earned with their hard work when they were teens. From the start, we are told how they loved to spend the

The recognition and understanding of symbolism adds richness and meaning to this tale because they make it more rewarding for readers. In this story, the vehicle, the clothes and the picture are capable of providing a deeper meaning because they represent something special for the character, Henry. This objects or symbols acquire significance to Lyman and Henry because it allows them to express or hold certain emotions that they cannot put into words. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a symbol is then worth ten thousand words. All these symbols were part of a memory that the narrator had while his brother lived, but as the story developed, we see how Lyman ends up with none of them, as he prefers to remember the brother he knew before the war. The author portrays that although people will not live forever, our memories