The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich: Literary Analysis Essay

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The Red Convertible is a story of two brothers and main characters: Layman and Henry Lamartine. Henry is well built, with a muscular body and a strong profile (Erdrich, 2009). Before he joined the Vietnam War as a Marine, he was easygoing, impulsive, and had a sense of humor. However, he returned home after three years as a soldier with a changed character. Henry became moody, silent, detached, jumpy, and rarely smiled or laughed (Erdrich, 2009). Layman maintained the same character throughout the story. He had great admiration for his older half-brother and enjoyed being with him. Layman described himself as being ‘lucky’ with money as he started working in childhood and was a restaurant owner in his teenage years. The Joliet café was ruined in a tornado, but he enjoyed his short time success (Erdrich, 2009). When Henry returned from the war, all changed; Layman remained optimistic that he would soon return to his old self. Just before Henry walked into the river and drowned, Layman had thought that the laughing and smiling meant he was returning to his old self.

The reader comes to know the story’s characters by telling as Layman narrates it. The Red Convertible uses the first-person point of view. The description of all the characters is in Layman’s view and understanding. Nevertheless, his voice is reliable and trustworthy as he exposes his emotional and sensitive nature to the readers without a shred of shame. The reader learns about Layman and his brother Henry through Layman’s eyes.

Layman Lamartine is a static character, whereas Henry Junior is a dynamic character. Layman’s character remained stable throughout the story, but Henry drastically changed after spending three years in the war. Henry transitioned from a happy and innocent young man to a moody, silent, and unhappy ex-soldier. The chaos and disaster he experienced during the Vietnam War wholly altered his being, leaving him empty and lonely. Layman remained the same happy and vibrant young man throughout the story.

Everything the reader knows about Henry is told from Layman’s point of view. Therefore, to a great extent, what is known about Henry depends on the knowledge of Layman. For instance, it is known that Henry had been a happy young man before he joined the war because he took a road trip with Layman and enjoyed every bit of it (Erdrich, 2009). Additionally, his later self is depicted as unhappy, desolate, and moody from his interactions with Layman and the rest of the family. The influence of Layman on Henry’s character development limits the reader from understanding Henry’s struggles and life.

During their last day together, Henry walked into the river to cool himself down but complained that his boots were filling. The author does not explicitly say if it was a suicide case or whether he drowned. Therefore, readers can speculate and infer their meanings from past occurrences. Considering the difficulties Henry faced with his trauma and distress following the war, jumping or walking into the river could have been a case of suicide. Although the family saw his suffering, they did not seek help to heal him or control the mental anguish. In addition, Layman described a sudden improvement in Henry’s mood just before he plunged into the river. These changes could be the manifestations of his desire to be free, and suicide might have been a short route to this freedom.

Reference

Erdrich, L. (2009). The red convertible. HarperLuxe.

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