The Red Convertible by Louise ErdrichIn The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich, the main character Henry loses touch with reality. The story is set in North Dakota, on an Indian reservation where Henry lives with his brother Lyman. Henry and Lyman purchase a red convertible which later in the story illustrates Henry's lack of ability to stay sane. The brothers take a summer road trip across the United States. When they return, Henry is called up to join the army, which turns out to be the transition point in Henry and Lyman's personal lives. The Vietnam War changed Henry's appearance, psyche, and his feelings about the red convertible. Before the Vietnam War, Henry's appearance was cheerful and energetic. Henry enjoyed his time with Lyman, working on the Red Convertible and traveling across the United States during the summer. They went from the Little Knife River to Alaska without a care in the world. Henry was talkative and friendly even to strangers. For example, when they pass a woman on the side of the road, Henry says, “Jump in,” indicating her friendliness and confidence (975). Henry's appearance before the war suggests that his life was complete. However, after the war, Henry's appearance was characterized by depression and disarray. When Henry returned, Lyman said "[he] was very different, and I will say this: the change was not good (977)." Henry was 180% different than before the war. “It was quiet, so quiet…” Lyman said, not as talkative and cheerful as he was before (977). Henry and Lyman had taken a long trip in the Red Convertible before the war, but now Henry "never feels comfortable sitting still anywhere (977)." They used to sit all afternoon, but now Henry is always... in the center of the paper... their feelings soon changed. Henry comes home one day and says, "the red car looks *censored*" (978). This point in the story where Henry's past actions before the war were still there after the war, completely surprises Lyman. As the Red Convertible advances, Henry's appearance, state of mind, and feelings about his beloved car change due to the Vietnam War. The war had extreme effects on Henry and his brother throughout the story. 57,000 men and women died in Vietnam, and the surviving soldiers suffered the same postwar feelings as Henry. Seeing death causes every person to change in some way, but when it is as gruesome and seen as repeatedly as some soldiers did, it changes their lives forever. Work cited Erdrich, Louise. "The red convertible." The story and its writer. 5th ed. Ed. Anna Charter. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 1999.