Perceptions & Deceptions: Life before and after Vietnam for Henry .
Have you ever wanted to take the summer off from work and escape from reality in order to travel around the world without having any worries? Well this is what Henry and Lyman in the "Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich decided to do one summer. Henry and Lyman are two brothers who grew up on the Indian reservation. They perceive life on the reservation as an ongoing circle with a harmonious atmosphere. During their trip to Montana and Alaska Henry and Lyman's idea of a carefree life is only reinforced, but when Henry is sent to Vietnam this perception is surpassed by a new reality and changes Henry's reactions to the surrounding circumstances. .
Henry and Lyman grew up on the reservation where life was peaceful and harmonious. The two brothers had a very close relationship growing up together and were able to expand their adolescence and simplicity with the purchase of the red convertible. A red convertible was not the typical car you would expect to see on the reservation but Henry and Lyman saw the car and bought it on a whim. They traveled to many different places with the car. The red convertible only let the two brothers enjoy their summer by taking them to many comfortable and peaceful places other than the reservation. One of the places they traveled to was filled with willows. "I remember I laid under those trees and it was comfortable. So comfortable. The branches, bent down all around me like a tent or a stable I felt good." (Erdrich, 284). This exemplifies Lyman's sense of harmony and displays the carefree attitude that Henry and himself were both experiencing. .
During the rest of the trip through Montana and on to Alaska, the boys" experiences only reinforce their attitude towards the carefree atmosphere. While visiting Montana, the brothers came across a hitchhiker. Henry just has the girl hop in the car without even asking her where she was headed.