Red Oldsmobile Essay Example

Red Oldsmobile Essay Example Red Oldsmobile Essay Red Oldsmobile Essay Name: Course: Instructor: Date: Red Oldsmobile Louise Erdrich’s Story The Red Convertible is a story that focuses on the relationship of two Native American brothers. The narrator is Lyman Lamartine and his older brother Henry, who is portrayed as the protagonist. Lyman provides a narration of his relationship with his brother Henry and a red Oldsmobile or convertible that they jointly purchased. Henry’s encounter at war results in his total change, in terms of character, and alters his relationship with his younger brother. The change in character also affects Lyman. The Red Oldsmobile could be used as an illustration of the relationship shared between the two brothers. The buying out of Lyman’s shares in the ownership of the Oldsmobile is an indication of the dire need by Henry to live in isolation because of trauma experienced in the Vietnam War. Symbolism is widely used in The Red Convertible as a means of illustrating change as provided by the term convertible. This alteration of a solid relationship between brothers turns to hostility despite their history together as close. The ultimate goal by the author is to illustrate and communication of the afflictions of emotions of individuals after the war by a solider in terms of his relationship with his family. The red convertible is used as an illustration of the relationship between Henry and Lyman (Erdrich 819). At the beginning of the narrative, the two brothers Henry and Lyman make a purchase of the red convertible, its restoration and travel using the red convertible to various locations around the world. Henry’s move to war is a turning point for the relationship with his brother. This is demonstrated by Lyman’s decision to take the car apart. Henry’s return from war is characterized by his scarred character, his loss in interest in the convertible and the relationship with his brother. The emotional disconnect between the two brothers is illustrated by Lyman’s actions after he bangs the car. The destroyed car is an express illustration of the fading and dying relationship between two brothers who shared a delicate and beautiful relationship similar to the features of a convertible. Henry later finds out that Lyman has damaged the car and confronts him. He states, â€Å"When I left, that car was running like a watch. Now I don’t even know if I can get it to start again, let alone get it anywhere near its old condition† (Erdrich 464). This is an indication that Henry desires to bring the car back into its old condition. He alludes to the car’s initial condition and compares it with its present state. The comparison provides an express view of the changes in terms of the relationship of the two brothers, which is chaotic and fading. The restored red Oldsmobile was easy to use, given that it was in a good mechanical condition similar to their relationship before Henry’s move to Vietnam due to the war. Henry ceases to be a joyful and engaging individual because of his experiences in Vietnam. The author indicates that the changes brought about by the experiences of war are evident in hennery and by his relations with his brother and family. Henry as a soldier in Vietnam is taken captive by the enemy as a prisoner of war. This is problematic for him in that he is unable to cope with the torture he experiences. He is unable to cope with the traumatizing event. This is the main factor towards his mental instability, anger and inability to relate with family. Other changes evident in the narrative include the purchase of a colored television set by Lyman after he leaves for war to Vietnam. This is an express indication of total change and a possible illustration that the situation changed. Hence, he seems to accept the fact that he had grown distant with his family and presumes that they are unable to provide support and relate with him as they had initially before he left for war in Vietnam. It is provided ion the narrative that before he left for war in Vietnam, Henry was an overly calm individual but changed after his return to a restless individual who is quick to anger. Lyman recalls in the narrative that Henry â€Å"sat for whole afternoons, never moving a muscle† (Erdrich, 936). This is an indication that Henry preferred solitude rather than the company of his younger brother that he initially preferred. He adds that the military changed him as many other service men that were changed by the experiences in combat. However, â€Å"the change was no good†¦..† It was a fact. Henry had become jumpy and mean† this is comparable tom the ‘old’ Henry who was evidently clam, gentle and longed to spend quality time with his brother and enjoyed sharing and traveling in the red Oldsmobile (Erdrich 923). The deterioration of the red Oldsmobile was because of the neglect by Lyman. This is similar to the relationship of the two individuals; they were unable to maintain a relationship despite sharing a strong bond. A lack of emotional connection or presence of emotional disconnect prompted the movement from one another emotionally. Henry was primarily unable to communicate his pain, horrors and experiences to his brother and family. His brother had been his primary confidant and friend with whom he shared his experiences and troubles. However, the war was so traumatizing that he finds it necessary to remain calm, aloof and in solitude, despite the efforts of his brother and his family to reach him. It is also evident that other changes are evident in terms of Henry’s character. Henry was initially a humorous and delightful individual. Lyman recalls Henry’s earlier character as a delightful individual who was slow to anger. This is comparable to the condition of the red Oldsmobile, which was new and able to tour round the American continent. Henry was initially full of energy and joyous in all his activities. Lyman narrates, â€Å"He’d always had a joke, then too, and now you could not get him to laugh† (Erdrich 936). His cheerful and witty nature is changed by the experiences in Vietnam. Lyman narrates that he was envious and delighted by the cheerful nature of his brother. Lyman longs for the earlier times when his brother was an individual with whom one could share ideas and spend a good time. Lyman recalls an event whereby Henry said to a longtime family friend named Suzy â€Å"Jump on my shoulders† (Erdrich 935). Henry swung her around such that her hair swayed from side to side with the blowing wind. The use of imagery is provided as a means of bringing out Henry’s earlier character as a cheerful individual who enjoyed life. His attempts at laughing are narrated by Lyman as â€Å"more like the sound of a man choking, a sound that stopped up throats of other people around him.† (935); this is an express indication of an individual who is filled with distress and despair in life. This is because of the trauma experienced at war. Lyman narrates that he viewed his brother bite his lip as he watched the colored television. Additionally, he struggled to stay still in the chair as he watched the television, which might have led him to recall the traumatizing events in Vietnam. Lyman describes the stillness and composure as â€Å"and that was the only time he was completely still. But it was the kind of stillness that you see in a rabbit when it freezes and before it will bolt† (Erdrich 936). This is an illustration that the trauma associated with war had a great effect on Henry’s character. This was a significant factor towards his withdrawal, emotionally, from his family and primarily forms his brother with whom he shared numerous aspects of life. Henry ignored the basic element that tied them together which is the red Oldsmobile. This basic element united the two brothers in that they shared the costs of purchase of the red Oldsmobile. Henry ignores the status of the vehicle that was a primary asset to him and his brother. Lyman has hopes in his brother and â€Å"the car might bring the old Henry back somehow† (Erdrich 937). His ignorance of the fact that his brother longs for his company results in total loss of faith by his brother Lyman who is unable to save him from an inevitable self destruction. Lyman’s loss of faith is an indication of actual and inevitable change in terms of their relationship despite his efforts to gain his brother’s attention. Additionally, the ruptured bond is illustrated by the destruction of the vehicle rendering it un-roadworthy. The two brothers cease using the vehicle since they are unable communicate as they had before Henry’s move to Vietnam. The restoration of the cars by Henry provides Lyman with a notion that this would renew their relationship. Bonita, Lyman and Henry’s only sister, takes a photograph of her two brothers posing in front of the red Olds. This is their last photograph together and with the red Oldsmobile. In their trip, Henry rushes and dives into the river after the two brothers engage in an intense argument over the vehicle. Lyman plunges the red Oldsmobile into the river resulting in the ultimate tragedy. The death of Henry is complimented by the plunging of the red Oldsmobile. Conclusively, the destruction of the Oldsmobile sums up the relationship of the tow individuals. The initial relationship between the two individuals is illustrated by the restoration and the new condition of the red Oldsmobile. Their relationship is severed by the deterioration in terms of condition of the Oldsmobile and summed up by the death of Henry and destruction of the Oldsmobile after plunging into the river. Work Cited Erdrich, Louise. The Red Convertible: Selected and New Stories, 1978-2008. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2009. Print.