Red Convertible Character Analysis

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be able to achieve the same state that he and the car had once been in.

As the story progresses, Lyman begins to notice that the car and Henry seem to be in better shape than before. One day, Henry asks Lyman to go for a ride and the two get a picture together before they head off, relieving Lyman of any bad thoughts about his brothers mental recovery. During the trip Lyman feels at peace with his brother, but one mistake leads Henry to his death, ending the bond between the two and the once consuming mental stability Henry endured is now Lymans cross to carry.

Lyman now is alone and the only way to forget it all is to drink and smoke but the haunting memory of his brother is still there. “Until one night when I was looking at television. I

was a little drunk and stoned. I looked up at the wall and Henry was staring at me. I don’t know what it was, but his smile had changed, or maybe it was gone… I was shaking.”(328) Even though Henry is gone, Lyman begins to fear his brother and his relief is now gone and the worry begins again. Lyman went to an extreme extent to try and save his already lost brother but kept hope in order to stay sane himself. All throughout the story Lyman stays hopeful and loving towards his brother. But now, Lyman takes on Henry’s burden and suffers everyday when looking at the picture of his once playful, goofy brother.