Many writers use symbolism in their stories in order to reveal certain or multiple aspects of the story. Symbols can be anything in a story from an inanimate or animate object to multiple other things. In the short story "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich, the red convertible symbolizes the bond between the two main characters Henry and Lyman. The red convertible also plays as a symbol by revealing the characters, plot and the central conflicts of the story.

The main characters in the story are two Native American brothers named Henry and Lyman. The story is told in first person narration by the main character, Lyman. The two brothers purchase a red convertible together with their own hard earned money. They seem to do everything together and the car is always there. Things start off good and pleasant in the story. Once things go sour the red convertible is what helps them bring things as close as possible to how they once were. The red convertible lasts all the way through the story just as the bond between the two brothers last.

Other then symbolizing the bond between the two characters the red convertible lets the readers know a little bit about each character. The

The red convertible also reveals the few central conflicts that take place in the story. One of the conflicts that the red convertible reveals is the communication between the two brothers. Once Henry goes off to war, Lyman and him send each other letters. Henry tells Lyman where he is and Lyman always tries to keep Henry "...informed all about the car." Using the car as a topic to keep in touch with each other works while Henry is off at war. Therefore when Henry returns the best way Lyman figures he can communicate with his brother is by using the red convertible in the same way. "I thought the car might bring the old Henry back somehow," was Lyman's idea. Another conflict that the red convertible helps reveal is man vs. machine. Henry and the red convertible may be different in just about every single way but they both shared the same role throughout the story. Both Henry and the red convertible were dear to Lyman and he lost both at the same place, one by fate and the other by choice. In this story man wasn't so much different from machine. These are just two of the conflicts in the story in which the red convertible is used to reveal them.

red convertible reveals the change in Henry's character from before he leaves for war to when he returns. Before Henry leaves to go to war he is an outgoing young man and the red convertible is described as, "...large as life... as if it was alive..." After returning from the war Henry is messed up me

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Approximate Word count = 980
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)