Essay: Reading Analysis

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Mahdi Pournazari

Villeneuve

Reading and Composition 101

10/13/20

Change is a Process

In the short story, “The Red Convertible” by Louis Erdrich, the main character Lyman

fails to restore his old relationship with his older brother Henry but can find closure by letting go

of the symbol of their relationship, the convertible. Lyman struggles to accept change but

realizes that letting go of the convertible was the first step into accepting change and finally

getting closure.

Erdrich expresses Lyman’s struggle when Lyman says, “When he came home, though,

Henry was different, and I'll say this: the change was no good (Erdrich 308)." This illustrates that

because Henry came home alive, Lyman wants to believe that everything is alright, and it will all

go back to normal. Lyman doesn’t want to accept that his beloved fun brother is gone and denies

that he may never get that old version of Henry back. He realizes that there is only one thing that

could bring back that old Henry, the red convertible. That red convertible symbolizes the

brother’s relationship. It is filled with good memories and reminds them of a time that they were

free and had no worries. They would drive for miles and miles not having a single care in the

world and enjoying their lives. In the short story Lyman says, “I thought the car might bring back

the old Henry back somehow (Erdrich 309).” This is an indication that Lyman will try to get the

old Henry back by using the convertible.

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Although it seems as if Henry will never go back to his old self, Lyman still thinks there

is a chance he can change him. So, Lyman did what he thought was best, “bent the tail pipe

double. Ripped the muffler loose (Erdrich 309).” It took a little over a month for Henry to realize

all the damage done to the car, but it was all right as the weather was just starting to get warmer

so Henry could work outside. After countless days and cold nights of working on that

convertible, Henry was able to fix it again and get it back running. At this time Lyman felt like

there could still be a chance that the old Henry was coming back especially when he said, “Let’s

take that old shitbox for a spin (Erdrich 310).” This gave Lyman a feeling of relief, his plan had

worked! Lyman even brings up how when everything starts changing, you feel like your whole

life is starting. All seemed good to Lyman, Henry seemed like he was at peace and it was just

him and Lyman back on the road feeling free. This is what Lyman wants as he doesn’t want his

relationship with his brother to change and he doesn’t want to accept that the old Henry never

came back from war.

Eventually, Lyman experiences a tragic loss, but can find closure. The convertible

symbolizes the brother’s freedom and all the good memories that came with it. In Rena Korb’s

essay she says, “Lyman believes that the ride to the Red River in the convertible represents a

new beginning.” Despite Lyman knowing that the Henry was not the same, he still decided to

ignore the signs. But accepting change is the hardest process of grief. It is hard to see a close

family member go from being free and happy, to being stressed out and biting into their own lip

until it bleeds. Lyman struggles to let go of the past but can find closure by letting go of the

convertible. “I get out and close the door, and watch it plow softly into the water (Erdrich 312).”

The convertible is the symbol of the brother’s relationship, so letting is slowly roll into the water

was Lyman’s way of showing he is ready to accept that Henry is gone. Another way Lyman

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finds his closure is by walking everywhere he goes. For so long he would drive everywhere with

his brother and walking everywhere is a very big change that he accepted. Although it was hard,

Lyman was able to make sacrifices and changes so he can finally find his closure and let go.

In Erdrich’s short story, “The Red Convertible,” Lyman is finally able to accept the tragic

loss of his brother and finds closure by making sacrifices. Accepting change is a struggle that

most go through at least once in their life. Lyman is a prime example of how life can change for

the better or for the worse. At the beginning of the story Lyman experiences change for the better

when him and Henry buy the convertible. But towards the end of the story he experiences change

that is not as good when Henry returns from war and is not the same as before. Ultimately.

Lyman understands nothing in life is permanent and change is inevitable, it is up to the person to

decide how they will handle it.

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Works Cited

Erdrich, Louise. “The Red Convertible.” The Story and Its Writer, edited by Ann Charters,

Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011, pp. 305-312

Korb, Rena. "Critical Essay on 'The Red Convertible'." Short Stories for Students, edited by

Jennifer Smith, vol. 14, Gale, 2002,