"The Red Convertable: An Execellent Example of an Evolving Symbol

Lyman's and Henry's "red, red Olds" is where the short story "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdich gets its title, and it is also a powerful and prevailing symbol throughout the piece. However, the red convertible is not a static symbol, it is constantly changing as the characters of the story transform. The car is purchased on a whim by the two brothers, Lyman and Henry. The car starts off initially as a symbol of brotherhood, friendship and exemplifies the strong bond shared between the two young men. It symbolizes excitement, travel and endless opportunities. As the story progresses, Henry is sent off to war and returns a broken man. He is changed completely as a person and this alteration effects his relationship with Lyman. When Henry returns he throws the keys of the convertible to his brother, accompanied with the comment "it's yours", showing the distance that as been put between the brothers because of the war. The car, that was a symbol of their strong relationship, morphs into a symbol of how broken their relationship has become. Lyman tries to restore their relationship, and his brother, to what it was before the war. His attempts prove futile when on a trip in the car his brother jumps into a fast flowing river. Henry drowns calmly, he had accepted that he was barely living anyway since his return from Vietnam. Lyman pushes the car in after him so it could share the same death as it's half owner; the car filling with water just as Henry's boots had. At this point the car becomes a symbol of acceptance. Lyman relates his brother and the strong bond they had to that red convertible, so it seemed right to him that they should die together. He had accepted the fact that he could not bring the old Henry back, and the car symbolizes him accepting that part of his life to be over. It is easy to see what a dynamic symbol the red convertible proves to be throughout this story and how essential it is to connecting characters, emotions and themes together.