The Red Convertible is a short story that develops in three periods: a description of the narrator's relationship with his brother, using the red convertible as a "catalyst", a description of how the war changed his brother, and the last trip Marty takes with Stephan. This arrangement allows more emphasis on details of the three parts. Before he left, Stephan was outgoing and in a great relationship with his younger brother, they had a close complicity and were doing everything together. The red convertible was the symbol of that as they worked on this car together, and had a beautiful road trip.
After he returned from the war, Stephan was traumatized by the war. he was detached, hypnotized (the TV episode shows it well). Out of spite, Marty destroys the symbol of their complicity. This triggers a reaction in Stephan who repairs the car, showing that he wants to reestablish his old relationship. I think at that point that Staphan understands he will never be able to return to his former self, he wants a last piece of fun with his brother and end it.
Romain Dahan Post 2
Great observations about how Erdrich structures the story and how the three distinct phases you identify relate to the brother's changing relationship and what happens to the red convertible.
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