Character Analysis: The Red Convertible

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The Red Convertible Although at first glance the car in “The Red Convertible” may seem to only be a small part of the story, it was really much more than that. The story is told in first person from the perspective of Lyman, who co owned the car with his older brother Henry. Throughout the story the relationship between the two brothers is constantly changing, but some of the biggest changes in their relationship occur while significant changes in the car happen as well. At first the car simply seems to be a way for the brothers to bond and work together, but the car actually symbolizes the brothers' relationship, and how that relationship changes over time. In the beginning of the story, Lyman explains that he had unusually good luck with …show more content…

“We went places in that car, me and Henry. We took off one whole summer” (331). With the car in such good shape, Henry and Lyman were able to drive wherever they wanted with it. This is similar to the condition of the brothers relationship at that time. Towards the end of the summer, they began the journey home and returned to their normal lives. “We'd made most of the trip, that summer, without putting up the car hood at all” (332). The car remaining in good condition despite all the time that it was driven that summer is also a symbol of the brothers relationship. Even though Henry and Lyman spent so much time together, they did not get tired of each other or even have any arguments. Once they arrived back home, Henry soon left for training camp for the army and eventually was sent to Vietnam. After being caught by the enemy, Henry spent three years in Vietnam before being able to return home. During Henry's absence, Lyman spent nearly all of his time working on the car and making sure that it stayed in perfect condition. This symbolizes Lyman's attempt to keep he and his brothers relationship the same even though they were not …show more content…

“You could hardly expect him to change for the better, I know. But he was quiet, so quiet, and never comfortable sitting still anywhere but always up and moving around” (333). The car, however, was in perfect condition and was ready to drive, but Henry barely noticed. Lyman eventually decides that in order for he and Henry's relationship to return to its original condition, they must once again bond through the car. This lead to Lyman taking a hammer to the car in order to get Henry's attention. “I had been feeling down in the dumps about Henry around this time. We had always been together before. Henry and Lyman” (334). Henry eventually noticed the cars condition, and soon began working on it to restore it to its original glory. Although Henry and Lyman's relationship was not repaired quickly, as the work on the car progressed the condition of the brothers relationship improved as

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