Today I will be comparing the two stories, the “red convertible” and “Fleur.” The first things I will be comparing are the two characters of Fleur and Stephen. The character of Fleur is described as someone who is strong and described by people as a myth like creature. As one who “laid the heart of an owl on her tongue to see at night so she could hunt”. She is also in the story seen as a free spirited person. Stephen described “red convertible: is seen also a strong person and also in a mythical way as a mighty Indian Warrior, “build like a brick house” the writer says.
But in both these stories a question put in the reader’s mind is, what happened to them? With Fleur wonder if she was beaten or raped by the men or both. And Stephen makes us wonder what happened to him while he was in service. Did military service frighten him so much that he changed? Or did he see a comrade die? Was the image of war too much for him? We do not know, but both characters are changed by the unclear events. One thing I noticed was that the author liked to show that people who are put on a high pedestal in a larger than life image, while contrasting the vulnerabilities like you and me.
You make some excellent connection between Erdrich's stories and raise many important questions. What do YOU think happened to both Fleur and Stephan based on the information Erdrich provides us with in the story. Also, why do you think Erdrich creates characters that seem to contrast larger than life abilities on the one hand, and vulnerabilities on the other?
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