Reading Literature and Writing Argument

10. "The Red Convertible" is set in 1974 on a Chippewa Native
American reservation in North Dakota.
Lyman narrates the story and recounts memories of his relationship with
his brother, telling of the good times they had with the car until Henry's
deployment to Vietnam.
Lyman misses his brother dearly and writes him constantly, telling the
reader about happy times and youthful trouble he and his brother got into
when they were younger.

11. Three years after enlisting, Henry returns home and Lyman sees how he
has changed during his time away.
The old Henry has been replaced by a war-hardened soldier who cannot
simply rejoin his and Lyman's youthful brotherly relationship.
Henry wears only broken-in clothes and military boots from his time in
Vietnam; he is either withdrawn or "jumpy and mean".

12. Lyman discovered that Henry has not even thought about the car once
since he returned. He drops hints about the car, hoping that those
memories will return the old Henry and restore their relationship.
Realizing that a relationship similar to what they once knew was no longer
attainable, Lyman takes a hammer to the car in the hope that his brother
will notice it, wanting to repair it.
When Henry sees the run-down convertible, he exclaims his interest for
restoring the car for Lyman.

13. After Henry patches the car, the two take it for a drive around the town
and end up down at the river. Lyman dares to hope that the repaired car
means a repaired relationship.
Henry tries to give Lyman full ownership of the car but Lyman constantly
refuses, and two brothers start to wrestle and fist-fight over the issue.
When Lyman gets a good hit under Henry's chin, Henry begins to laugh
and tells Lyman to "Ha! Ha! Take good care of it".

14. The brothers enjoy a short moment of laughter and then sit and think
about how things used to be.
After spending a few good minutes together, Henry tells Lyman that he
needs to cool off, so he runs and jumps into the river.
Henry remarks that his boots have filled with water and he goes under in
the current. Lyman rushes to rescue his brother but to no avail. He then
turns on the car and sends it into the river, watching it sink to its demise
just like Henry.

15. Theme, Voice, Symbolism, Conflict