In Erdrich’s story “The Red Convertible,” Henry Lamartine makes three memorable journeys off the Chippewa reservation. The first journey, which he takes with his brother Lyman, is a pleasure-filled jaunt around the western part of the United States. The next time he leaves the reservation he is sent to fight in the Vietnam War. His…
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The Red Convertible – Symbolism
In “The Red Convertible”, Erdrich uses symbolism in a variety of ways. The most important symbol is the title car, the significance of which changes as the story unfolds. Erdrich’s use of symbolism in this way gives her story depth and complexity and enables her to communicate ideas and character developments without lengthy explanations. As…
The Red Convertible – Setting
American Involvement in the Vietnam War The Vietnam War lasted from 1959 to 1975, with the North Vietnamese and the National Liberation Front fighting the South Vietnamese and the United States military. The United States involvement stemmed from the belief that if Vietnam came under communist control, communism would quickly spread throughout Southeast Asia. In…
The Red Convertible – Symbolism – Literary Devices
First-Person Narrator ”The Red Convertible” is told entirely in the first person from Lyman’s point of view. He tells the reader about his brother, expressing the love and admiration he felt and his pain at being powerless to help him in the end. His voice is seemingly trustworthy and reliable, and he is unashamed of…
The Red Convertible – Themes – Brotherhood – War
Brotherhood At the center of “The Red Convertible” is the relationship between Lyman and Henry. Lyman’s motivation for telling the story is to embrace and preserve his brother’s memory. Because the story is told from Lyman’s point of view, the reader has no direct insight into Henry’s thoughts and feelings. His words and actions, however,…
The Red Convertible – Characters
Bonita Bonita is Lyman and Henry’s only sister. She was eleven when Henry died. On the last day of Henry’s life, Bonita took a picture of Lyman and Henry just before they took the car for a drive. Henry Lamartine, Jr. Henry was Lyman’s older half-brother. He is described as having had a large, muscular…
The Red Convertible – Summary
“The Red Convertible” is narrated by Lyman Lamartine, a member of the Chippewa tribe who lives on a reservation with his family. He tells a story from his recent past about his older halfbrother, Henry. As Lyman tells the story, the year is 1974. Lyman was able to buy a red convertible Oldsmobile with his…
Night by Tatyana Tolstaya – Analysis
One of the most startling events in Tatyana Tolstaya’s “Night,” a tale filled with amazing and surprising images, is Alexei’s apparently sudden interest in becoming a writer. Alexei is a middle-aged retarded man whose occupation as a builder of cardboard boxes keeps him and his mother, Mamochka, housed and fed—not a typical candidate to pursue…
Night by Tatyana Tolstaya – Themes
Society versus the Individual Alexei and Mamochka live in a cramped and noisy communal apartment in Moscow. They must share their bathing, toilet, and cooking facilities with all of their neighbors—none of whom seems to like the mother and her son. Mamochka instructs Alexei to make sure he doesn’t touch anything in the bathroom when…
Night by Tatyana Tolstaya – Summary
In the Morning ”Night” begins as Mamochka and her retarded adult son, Alexei, wake up in their communal Moscow apartment. Alexei wakes from fantastic dreams filled with dragons, dwarves, and mushrooms, but Mamochka’s rising is much more ordinary: she is occupied with replacing her false teeth, reattaching a hair piece, and clothing her stout frame….