AMERICAN LITERATURE Natalia Antunez 25 June 2013 ASSIGNMENT #6 1- How do the Lamartine brothers search for their identity?

Think of the three aspects of identity: Social Identity: American society as multicultural. What external and internal contradictions do they face when trying to find their identity as Americans? While trying to find their identity as Americans, Lyman and Henry face external an internal contradictions. Regarding internal contradictions, Lyman explained at the beginning that he was the only kid they let to be involved in the American Legion Hall to shine shoes and to sell bouquets. Lyman was excited about this, but Natives could not agree with this as he worked with the nuns. It seems that he was fighting to be an American by accepting the education with Protestant people (white mens way of life), and following the customs of Native Americans. Secondly, they mentioned how people living in the reservation had no privileges and they were not considered important for the government. They didnt have any Indian doctor, for example, to help them in any case; they had to accept the American doctors that treat patients in public hospitals. Even though they knew they had no rights, Henry, for example, decided to join the army and fight in the USA Army with white people. As for external contradictions, they are somehow related to the internal ones. They might want to feel as Americans did when they bought the old convertible, the red Olds. It seems that they wanted to start feeling powerful with the idea of owing a car. However, this may seem to be against their own traditions (internal contradiction) as this action may represent treason to the Natives. All these contradictions may stand for the different ideas Lyman and Henry had to accept. They were between American customs and Native traditions. However, we can say that Henrys family may have felt the same way as other White American families that had to deal with sons/brothers who fought in the Vietnam War and came back home completely changed. People know how soldiers, even nowadays, cant leave the war behind, and their minds will ever be disturbed by their moments at war.

Racial Identity: being Native Americans. What historical, cultural and traditional roots influence their search? I think that the road they joined with the red convertible is a symbol for their trying to find their identities. The fact that they crossed the whole country, and in their way, helped a young lady, Susy, stand for their trying to learn from other people about American. Maybe they were struggling against the ideals of Native Americans and they wanted to imagine their lives outside the reservation. They knew that living in a reservation means to accept economic hardships, social alienation, overt discrimination and unemployment. Even more, the fact that they were doing this

trip together may represent how afraid they were of the outside world, and doing this together not only will it bring a whole new experience as brothers, but it will also help them in their process of assimilation into the American Culture.

Individual Identity: how are they unique as individuals but similar to other human beings in their search? How is the story universal in this sense? Lyman and Henry were unique as individuals but as they were brothers, they share some characteristics. In the case of Lyman, he was unique because he had a talent to make money; he was very good at business as he was able to run his own restaurant. He is a very intuitive person as he immediately noticed that war had changed Henry and he wanted his brother to come back. He purposefully destroyed the red convertible to make him react. Moreover, the ending of the story is shocking as you can feel the how empty Lyman must have felt seeing his brother dying, it is all finally dark. And then there is only the water, the sound of it going and running and going (page 367). As for Henry, he is described as a funny, easygoing, talkative, full of life guy. He seems to be quite impulse as he decided to start a trip without any previous plans. However, after he returned from the Vietnam war, he is described as a quite (page 362), jumpy and mean person (page 363). He was struggling to re-adapt to his normal life, and it seems that he couldnt find a reason to live and so withdrew from the rest. He didnt laugh, involve in families meetings or even work to relate to other people. He just wanted to be left alone. At the same time, they shared some characteristics. They had the same mother and the same sense of adventure. The story is universal in the sense that it can be related to many sisters or brothers relationship in which each individual is unique in a certain way but they share something in common. The story can stand for how war can change peoples feelings and ideals; how can someone so close to another person, like sisters and brothers, cannot find a way to help this part of you; and how desperate and lonely someone can feel even though he/she may have hundreds of people who are worried about him. It is about the empathy and compassion for those who have fought at war for their country, and how the soldiers souls can never be truly to them again.

2- Describe the oral quality of the Red Convertible. Provide specific examples The Red Convertible is characterized with oral quality. First of all, it is narrated in first-person narrator by Lymans point of view, and so it sounds as if someone is telling you an anecdote. Secondly, it uses several expressions as if you were there listening to him, for example The first time we saw it! and Dont ask me why (page 360). It seems that as the story doesnt have many dialogues, it helps you to feel as if someone is retelling a story, not for readers to read it. Then, is seems to me that Lyman is really emotional, for example when he said Ill say this: the change was not good (page 362) or I always thought of it as his car while he was gone (page 362). By this, he encourages the reader to feel close to him listening to the story of his brother. According to the Indian Country Oral Tradition1, oral traditions educate the young and teach important lessons about the past and about life. Even though these traditions can vary from teller to teller, they can be as reliable as other non-oral ways of recording and passing on experiences. The

importance of storytelling is that they are part of the heritage of their own people, and that these memories can continue through generations.

3- How is the story symbolic? The story is symbolic because it stands for BROTHERHOOD. The purpose of the car defines the relationship of the two brothers, and how they are similar by sharing the same taste and sense of adventure as they enter adulthood. The car represents the UNION, the BOND between brothers, and the color red may stand for their having the same blood as Natives, as brothers. The state of the car at the beginning suggests that they have a very good, strong relationship. They enjoyed the time together and they even made most of the trip without putting up the hood (page 362). During the war, the car was left alone without any care; Lyman said I had it up on blocks in the yard or half taken apart. (page 362) This stands for their time apart and how they were not connected while Henry was at war. After the war, the state of the car changed. The car is full of holes showing how hurtful Henry was. However, Henry put some effort on it so that they could enjoy some time together but this didnt turn out to be as he expected. On a short drive, Henry apparently drowned and the car went with him in the river. This last event may represent two things: their relationship and how now it is dead and lost forever; or how Henry found finally peace from all the inner turmoil that haunted him.

WORKS CITED 1) Indian Country Oral Tradition http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/icw-14.html (June, 25th)