Unlike Mother's Love and Sufficing, which portray difficult relationships between mother and daughter, The Red Convertible focuses on the love and heartbreak between two Chippewa brothers. The Red Convertible demonstrates the hardships of being unable to help the ones you love, and how quickly relationships change in the wake of a traumatic event.
The story introduces readers to the narrator, Lyman, and his older brother, Henry, with whom he has a close relationship. Henry and Lyman purchase a red convertible together, which Lyman describes as "reposed, calm and gleaming", much like Henry himself (18). The condition of the convertible and the state of Henry and Lyman's relationship are in unison throughout the story. When the brothers first purchase the convertible, it is in perfect condition - similarly, Henry and Lyman share an entire carefree summer together in the convertible, boasting a seemingly perfect friendship. Even when Henry is sent to war, the relationship between the brothers is maintained. Lyman takes care of the car and takes care of his brother, writing him several letters and keeping him up-to-date about their convertible. It isn't until Henry's capture in the war and eventual return from the army that their relationship changes. |
The effects of the war inflict a noticeable change upon Henry - while in the past, "he'd always had a joke", after the war no one could "get him to laugh, or when he did it was more the sound of a man choking, a sound that stopped up the throats of other people around him" (19). As Henry and Lyman's relationship steadily falls apart and Henry's post-traumatic stress disorder distances him from his family, Lyman destroys the convertible. He damages it nearly beyond repair, much like Henry. Henry eventually notices the condition of the convertible and attempts to repair it, which simultaneously seems to have a positive effect on the relationship with his brother. Henry and Lyman take a drive in their old car again, but once they arrive at the river, Henry has an episode, proclaiming that he no longer wants the convertible. Moments later, Henry drowns himself in the river, and realizing that his brother is dead, Lyman pushes the convertible into the water along with him, effectively ending their brotherhood. As The Red Convertible demonstrates, one of the greatest challenges of love is sharing in the hardships of loved ones and watching them slip away. |