The story of "The Red Convertible" was a story about the strong relationship between two brothers. I found it interesting that something as simple as a car had brought Stephan and Marty together, but the war in Vietnam had altered their relationship. The change in Stephan's attitude is not unlike many soldiers who return home after serving active duty. Their perception of the world around them has changed. Stephan had essentially become a shell of his former self, therefore suggesting that the childhood he once knew with his brother had been torn apart through war. However, Marty tried to change his brother by breaking the car and having Stephan rebuild it. This was similar to the way Stephan had in a sense become broken. As he fixed the car, his image had slowly pulled together as well. The car and him were as one, and in the end, both had perished. The car had belonged to Stephan and therefore, would go away with him.

The red convertible was more than just a car, it was the bond that held the brothers relationship together. It was a representation of a care-free life, where they were able to travel as they pleased without a single worry. It allowed Marty and Stephan to connect on a better basis, which is until Stephan sets off for Vietnam. This tore apart the bond that they had built much like how Marty destroyed the car. It had been reduced to nothing, almost to the point that it wouldn't work, which is similar to Stephan's personality throughout the story. He had to rebuild the life he once knew. However, once everything seemed alright, Stephan had jumped into the river forgetting about the dangers that were in store for him. This was similar in how he entered the war without any sense of what was in the future. The only difference was that this time he did not return, but was rather swept away in the strong current. This last part of the story actually connects to "Fleur" in that the Chippewa cannot survive death by drowning.
(David Roberts, Post 2)