“The Red Convertible” is a story involving lots of depth and richness due to the fact that the red convertible has a lot of symbolism and reflects a lot of the author’s believes. This story includes much of the use of flashback due to the way of the story telling of the Anishinaabe tradition which was practiced by the Native Americans. Erdrich wrote this story “The Red Convertible” as a way of showing the readers that there is something spiritual and beautiful behind all problems and that we do not always have to look at things and changes that happens to us as a tragedy. This is why Erdrich introduces the red convertible as a story of relationships and the loss of innocence.
As other work from Luise Erdrich, she follows the same patter for other stories as she does for “The Red Convertible” she “identifies as repetition with variations, rhetorical patterns associated with oral ity” (Kryhoski 2).
The use of flashback helps the readers understand and become more involved with the pattern of the story. She uses the narrator as the protagonist of the story as he becomes involved in a feeling of happiness and frustration consequently. Erdrich also formed part of the Anishinaabe culture and like many indigenous cultures; stories are passed on form generation to generation in a form of oral interpretations and preserving their cultural values. “Members of her family historically have engaged in storytelling from time to time, and repeated exposure to this family tradition, Erdrich says, influences her writing style.
The Essay on The Native American Culture in The Red Convertible
The Native American Culture in "The Red Convertible" In the short story "The Red Convertible," by Louise Erdrich, the author, contrasts the old way of life versus the new. Erdrich does this through metaphorical symbols: the color red, convertible, summer trip, and the "fancy" dance Henry performs before his death (Erdrich p. 468). In the story, the color red symbolizes many things. The ...
It is not surprising, then, to discover an Anishinaabe oral tradition serving as the supporting framework for the story” (Kryhoski 3).
This story deals with a red convertible that symbolizes the relationship between the characters of the story. It is an emotional story about a young boy and the importance of his relationship with his brother. The author, Erdrich, contrasts the old way of life versus the new. She uses metaphorical symbols such as, the color red, convertible, summer trip, and the dance performed by Henry, the older brother, before his death. In this story the color red symbolizes many things.
The convertible is red. The color red represents Henry’s need to be free. While making the trips, the convertible looks as though it were bright red because while driving, Henry felt trapped by the war. As they return to the Red River, Henry re encounters his spiritual freedom. His brother, Lyman was surprised when Henry said that he wanted to up the car because it had no use. “As a Chippewa, Henry learned to be reserved in expressing his feelings; his culture expected men to refrain from emotional displays” (Bussey 2).
Therefore, by Lyman giving Henry the red convertible it is foreshadowing his own death. So Henry became scared of the thought that his own brother was thinking about his death and it was the reason to why he was giving him the car. Lyman then refuses to keep the car because he does not want his brother to die. The red convertible represented a union between the two brothers. This car was a figure that kept them together and it was a way of sharing and spending time with each other. “A fraternity exists between the brothers that transcends traditional notions of relation; this fraternity is linked to Lyman’s Anishinaabe beliefs” (Kryhoski 4).
The Essay on Brothers Lyman Henry Red War
... based on two Native American brothers, Lyman and Henry Junior Lamartine. The red convertible is an important asset to the brothers Lamartine. It affects their lives. ... uses the red as the color of the convertible. In the story, the reason is that the color of the convertible is red and the ...
Henry left to war and when he came back he went to Lyman and he had changed. He wasn’t the same person as he was when he left. Lyman knew that there was something different with Henry as soon as he began to dance. His dance symbolically represents his rejection of war.
Henry, tortured by the memories of war, performs this dance in hopes of healing the nightmares. Henry was so tormented by this experience that he could not let go of the shock that the war had on him. Henry couldn’t accept the changes that were occurring around him; therefore he took his own life by drowning in the Red River. Louise Erdrich uses the culture of the old Native Americans to explain the actions demonstrated by the characters in the story.
The symbolism that she uses gives us a good insight into the lives of the characters. And the way she uses imagery and the emotional content in the story allows the reader to feel a sense of environment throughout the story. “In “The Red Convertible,” Erdrich highlights the true essence of nativism, illuminating the fact that even in the presence of foreign influences, the true native spirit can never be lost” (Dutta 2).
