The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich
"The Red Convertible" is a poignant short story by Louise Erdrich, which is also a chapter in her novel "Love Medicine." Set on a Native American reservation in North Dakota, the narrative follows Lyman Lamartine and his older brother, Henry, Jr., who share a deep bond exemplified by their ownership of a red convertible. Their lives are dramatically altered when Henry volunteers for military service and is deployed to Vietnam, where he is captured and becomes a prisoner of war. Lyman, who cherished their carefree days spent together on the open road, struggles to cope with the changes in Henry after his return; the joyful brother he once knew has been replaced by a withdrawn and traumatized man.
The story explores themes of brotherhood, trauma, and the impact of war on individuals and families. Lyman's efforts to reconnect with Henry through the car highlight the emotional distance that war can create, even among those who were once inseparable. The narrative culminates in a tragic and symbolic moment, underscoring the profound loss experienced by both brothers. Erdrich’s work reflects the complexities of Native American life and the enduring bonds of family, offering readers insight into the struggles of reconciling identity and trauma in the aftermath of conflict.
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The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich
First published: 1981
Type of plot: Realism, coming of age
Time of work: The early 1970's
Locale: American Indian reservation in North Dakota
Principal Characters:
Henry Lamartine , a Vietnam War veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorderLyman Lamartine , his younger brother
The Story
"The Red Convertible," which also forms a chapter in Louise Erdrich's novel Love Medicine (1984, 1993), is the story of two Native American brothers, Lyman Lamartine and his older sibling, Henry, Jr. Narrated by Lyman, the story explores the relationship between the brothers before and after Henry's combat experience in Vietnam, where he was held as a prisoner of war.
The story begins on an American Indian reservation in North Dakota. Lyman has received a large insurance check after a tornado destroyed his restaurant. He and Henry, a laid-off factory worker, buy a red convertible. Free of daily responsibilities, they take to the open road in their flashy automobile. Along the way, they pick up Susy, a Native American woman who is hitchhiking. After giving her a ride to her home in Chicken, Alaska, they spend the summer with her family. Their idyllic journey comes to an end when they return to their reservation and discover that Henry, who had volunteered for military service, has been called to report for duty.
After nine months of combat duty in Vietnam, Henry is captured by the North Vietnamese and imprisoned for six months. During Henry's absence, Lyman restores the travel-worn car. Working on the convertible provides Lyman with a tangible link to his brother. When Henry finally returns home, he is profoundly changed. Gone is the fun-loving child, and in his place is a jumpy, mean, and withdrawn man who rarely speaks. He spends his days sitting quietly but restlessly in front of the color television set. Because there are no Native American doctors on the reservation, Lyman and his mother consider sending Henry to a psychiatric hospital but ultimately reject the notion. Instead, Lyman believes that the red convertible might somehow bring the old Henry back.
Taking a hammer to the car, Lyman beats the body and undercarriage out of shape. It takes a month for Henry to notice the damage, but when he does, he berates Lyman for allowing the car to deteriorate. He sets about fixing it himself, without Lyman's help. Lyman is disappointed because he had hoped that he and Henry would repair the convertible together, thereby reestablishing the close bond they had once shared. As Henry works on the car, he seems to revert to his prewar self, but the change proves to be superficial. After the car is restored, Bonita, Henry and Lyman's younger sister, takes a picture of them standing in front of the now-pristine automobile.
Henry suggests that they take the car for a spin, and the men head for the Red River. It is early spring, and the river is swollen with water from melting snow. As they sit on the bank, Lyman becomes aware of a squeezing sensation in his chest and realizes that he is feeling the same anguish that Henry is experiencing at that moment. Frightened, he shakes Henry's shoulders and yells, "Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up!" Henry, resigned, tells Lyman, "It's no use," and insists that Lyman take the car as his own. Lyman protests that he does not want the car, and the brothers engage in a fistfight. Suddenly they stop fighting and start laughing uncontrollably. The tension is broken, and Henry begins to dance wildly. Telling Lyman that he needs to cool off, Henry runs to the river, jumps in, and is taken by the current. Lyman realizes that his brother is in trouble and calls out to him. Henry replies in a detached way, "My boots are filling," and then drowns. Lyman dives in to try to save him but is unsuccessful. After climbing out of the water, he drives the car to the bank, releases the clutch, and lets the car slide into the river after his brother.
Bibliography
Bruchac, Joseph. "Whatever Is Really Yours: An Interview with Louise Erdrich." In Survival This Way: Interviews with American Indian Poets. Tucson: Sun Tracks and University of Arizona Press, 1987.
Coltelli, Laura. "Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris." In Winged Words: American Indian Writers Speak. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1990.
Erdrich, Louise. "Where I Ought to Be: A Writer's Sense of Place." The New York Times Book Review 91 (July 28, 1985): 1, 23-24.
Erdrich, Louise. "The Writing Life: How a Writer's Study Became a Thing with Feathers." The Washington Post Book World, February 15, 2004, 13.
Hafen, P. Jane. Reading Louise Erdrich's "Love Medicine." Boise, Idaho: Boise State University Press, 2003.
Meadows, Susannah. "North Dakota Rhapsody." Newsweek 141, no. 8 (2003): 54.
Rifkind, Donna. "Natural Woman." The Washington Post Book World, September 4, 2005, 5.
Sarris, Greg, et al., eds. Approaches to Teaching the Works of Louise Erdrich. New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2004.
Stookey, Loreena Laura. Louise Erdrich: A Critical Companion. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1999.