A Comparison Of Lyman And The Red Convertible

Louise Erdrich and James Baldwin wrote two similar short stories in which the stories revolve around brotherly connections. One author wrote about a brother’s struggle with post traumatic stress and the other wrote about a brother and his battle with drug addiction. The main characters, Lyman in “The Red Convertible” and the narrator in “Sonny’s Blues,” attempt to rescue their brothers from self destruction. In both stories the main characters brothers have been remitted into society after returning from their individual battles. In Louise Erdrich’s “The Red Convertible,” Lyman’s brother Henry enlisted in the army and is called to arms in Vietnam. Before he left, the two brothers went on a road trip in a red convertible that they purchased

In “The Red Convertible,” Lyman and Henry used the red convertible as a resemblance of their relationship. While Henry was away in Vietnam, Lyman restored the old car and had it “in tip-top condition and ready to drive” (Erdrich 235). He took care of the car as if he were taking care of his brother. In an effort to help his brother, Lyman damaged the car and lured Henry into working on it. Lyman believed that if he could get Henry interested in something again, the red convertible in particular, he could take his mind off of the war and bring the old Henry back. The bond between two brothers is an exceptional connection, however, since Henry’s return there is a noticeable detachment between the two. Lyman wants the old Henry. He believes that if they get in the car and take a trip like before that Henry will return to his old self. The only thing that Henry wants is to be free of the nightmares, by any means necessary. This is the reason that Henry repairs the car. He wanted Lyman to have something left of their bond, something to remember the good times they shared. On their final trip together Henry commits suicide by jumping into the Red River. His last words were “my boots are filling” (Erdrich 237). His last words were as calm as could be because he was no longer worried. Lyman tried his hardest to save his brother and to bring him back to reality but there was no hope. As long as Henry was breathing the war would rage inside. Henry needed to be free and he found his freedom at the bottom of the Red River. In “Sonny’s Blues,” the narrator had made a promise to their mother before she died, promising to watch over Sonny. The last words that his mother told him were “You may not be able to stop nothing from happening. But you got to let him know you’s there” (Baldwin 219). The narrator begins to understand Sonny when he finally gives