Summary Of Love Medicine By Louise Erdrich

In Laura Kryhoski’s critical analysis of “The Red Convertible,” she points out several elements often overlooked when reading the short story for the first time. At first glance, the story appears “definably tragic” (Kryhoski). Kryhoski claims that if the reader were to investigate author Louise Erdrich’s background, the story would seem less of a tragedy and more of a reflection of her upbringing. As the narrator in “The Red Convertible,” Lyman seems to be recalling the tale from his memories rather than telling the events as they occur. Lyman focuses more on the distinct detail of each moment than he does on the bigger picture. This invokes the image

One of the themes used in the book is of racism towards the Natives. An example used in the book is of Edward Sheriff Curtis who was a photographer of 1900s. Curtis was interested in taking pictures of Native people, but not just any Native person. “Curtis was looking for the literary Indian, the dying Indian, the imaginative construct” (King, 2003; pp. 34). He used many accessories to dress up people up “who did not look as the Indian was supposed to look” (King, 2003; pp.34). He judged people based on his own assumptions without any knowledge of the group and their practices. Curtis reduced the identity of the Native Americans to a single iconic quintessential image of what Native meant to white society. The idea related to the image of this group of people during the 1900s consisted of racism in terms of the “real looking Indian”. This is not

Right away he connects the Big Indian to a movie he had recently seen. This proves that the media has a major role in creating and carrying out stereotypes. Even the description given about the big Indian, “was naked to the waist. His hair was braided and wrapped with white ermine and strips of red cloth. He wore a single feather held in place by a leather band stretched around his head“ (King 284), shows to be true what a typically First Nation looks like in movies. The media definitely emphasizes stereotypes especially on groups of minorities. Red clearly is not the smartest so of course he will give into the media is telling him. But the media does not always tell the truth, in which why people characterize minorities by listening to the stereotypes depicted in the

Literary elements appear in all exceptional literature, they are what helps build a strong story. There are many literary elements visible in Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich. In the novel there are elements such as foreshadowing, tone, several examples of symbolism, and several major themes.

The Red Convertible by Louise Erdrich is more than an emotional story about the lives of two brothers who grew up together on an Indian reservation. She uses a writing style that allows the reader to understand the text, while providing the opportunity to read into the story. Erdrich uses metaphors, symbols, imagery to describe and define the brothers Henry and Lyman’s relationship.

“The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich is a short story about two Native American brothers, Lyman and Henry, and their growing bond as brothers. Symbolism is used rather heavily in this story. One of the main symbols of the story, as noted in the title, is the red convertible. The red convertible symbolizes the relationship status of the two brothers, and the struggles they face as Henry is drafted into the Vietnam War as well as when he returns home.

With her West Virginia upbringing and living in a coal town, she was inspired to write about “rednecks” in a more positive way. The main way of her doing so was to bring to light the characters of the novel and their loyalty to family, the land and values. The characters are very relatable, the characters manage to wiggle their way into the reader’s heart. It is easy for the reader to become attached characters and to the issues arising in the book. It is in fact a part of our history, native to Appalachia or

“The Red Convertible” is an interesting story due to its characters, plot, and the general background that the author was motivated by to write this story as well as many of her other works. “The Red Convertible” deals with the relationship between two brothers of the Chippewa Reservation. The story focuses on how their relationship changes over a period of time and discretely how the red convertible car they both bond over reflects those changes in their relationship throughout that period. Sadly, these changes are not good as they focus on the effects Henry Jr. has after he serves in the Vietnam War. Lyman, his younger brother, is also affected and tries many things to help his brother go back to his “regular old-self” but in the end he

Happiness is a euphoric state, it is the light at the end of the tunnel, it is what individuals seek to achieve. Human beings inherently want to be happy. Happiness is unique because it has seven billion different definitions. In his book Immune to Reality, Daniel Gilbert argues that individuals are only as happy as the subconscious function of their brain allows them to be. Additionally, he questions the state of happiness by citing the psychological immune system. The psychological immune system is a subconscious process of the human brain, which favorably rationalizes human decisions whether they were right or not, regardless of outcome it always finds something favorable to take away. In Barbara Fredrickson’s Love 2.0, she introduces the vagus nerve as a biological apparatus to increase loving potential; Fredrickson links higher levels of loving potential to increased overall health. Most importantly, Fredrickson establishes the relationship between love and happiness as an interdependent one, “Having at least one close relationship like this is vital to your health and happiness” (108). Fredrickson believes that humans have the power within them to biologically alter themselves and to shape their own identity. Inversely, Malcolm Gladwell proclaims that human identity is shaped by the environment an individual is subject to in his book The Power of Context. Gladwell affirms that humans have the power to shape their identity, however only by changing the

Louise Erdrich’s compelling short story, “The Red Convertible” thoroughly displays the relationship of two Native American brothers; the story reveals how a close relationship which was at one time unfathomable to think it would come to a finale, would one day deteriorate. The adventurous memories that were once kept with great enthusiasm, were now destroyed as the war destroyed Henry. Sadly, Lyman and Henry’s once long-lasting relationship died off as Henry did

The short story “The Red Convertible” was written by Louise Erdrich. Louise Erdrich was born in 1954 in Little Falls, Minnesota and was the oldest of seven children. Her mother, who was a Chippewa Indian, worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Her father, who was a German-American, was a teacher of Native American studies in a school that was run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Growing up, Louise’s parents told her many stories of the Indian culture growing up. Her parents encouraged her to write her own stories and her father paid her a nickel for every story she wrote, and even made Louise covers for them. Louise continued to write throughout her childhood and then became one of the first women admitted to Dartmouth College in 1972. She majored in creative writing and English. She also took classes in Native American studies with the chair of the department, Michael Dorris, who she would marry in 1981. After Erdrich earned her masters degree in writing from Johns Hopkins, she collaborated with Dorris on poems and short stories that were inspired by their love for each other and Native American culture. They first published work together shortly after being married and were in need of money, but the quickly written works went on to be award-winning. The couple continued writing short fiction and published novels together. When the couple separated in 1995, Louise moved back to her hometown to focus her work on Native American themes and be with family.

“The Red Convertible “is a really great story to read because of its themes, characters, and its background. The author gives a lot motivations for the readers to be interested. “The Red Convertible” is a story that deals with two brothers that come from the Chippewa reservation. The story’s focus is the two brothers and how did their relationship has changed after a period and especially how did the red convertible reflect on their relationship. Those changes were sad and turned out not to be that good of a change specially for Henry Jr. after he left to serve in the Vietnamese war. Lyman is Henrys younger brother, was really affected by those changes that happened to his older brother Henry, Lyman tries his best to do everything he can to help his brother Henry go back to his old life and self, Lyman kept trying to do everything for his brother but nothing worked out. The author Louise Enrich puts out all themes that puts matter together. Enrich uses many symbols that conveys the experience of a lot individuals that has to deal and live by following complex cultures or under certain circumstances.

Other stories, perceived as unrealistic, often are posited so because they contain elements we do not see in the real world; metaphoric fantasy, symbolism, abstractness. These concepts are all based on our own filters of perception – we discern what is historically accurate and what is legend, or myth, based on our position in culture and the lenses which we view ourselves. In “The Red Convertible”, we can see these concepts at play – Lyman, narrating the story of the relationship with his brother Henry, tells a story that flows very effortlessly. Things that happen around him seem to brush off of him, as if they are no big deal.

Storytelling is a large component of Native American’s culture. Storytelling has the ability to connect people, events, and things to each other which transcends racial and temporal boundaries. Van Camp transcends the binary’s boundaries through storytelling, bringing Native traditions and events into the modern world. For example, Larry is a Dogrib, yet he is not living on a reservation and more or less seems to know little about his Indigenous identity, “Due to the novel's multiethnic small-town setting and his parents' residential schooling, Larry seldom receives cultural knowledge that might explicate... a traditional Dogrib social structure” (McKegney). However, through storytelling, specifically oral storytelling, Van Camp sets up a connection between Larry and his tribal knowledge. Larry is told his tribe’s creation story which serves as a vessel to deliver tribal knowledge into Larry’s modern world. The creation story can also be seen to transcend boundaries between the different Indigenous tribes of Jed, Larry, and Johnny. Larry is also seen to share stories with the readers as well as the characters of Juliet, and Johnny. Juliet is white and learns of an Indigenous story through Larry, “I closed my eyes and decided to let the story lead. I was just the voice, and I knew the story would tell itself.” (Van Camp 113). The story connected Juliet with

Although I’ve only read the first couple chapters of Louise Erdrich’s novel Love Medicine, I have already realized that I am going to like this book. My only dislike thus far is that her detailed and figurative writing style can cause confusion at times, for example when she switches from character to character or includes various names every other paragraph. I find myself at times having to read certain lines again so I can actually understand what is going on or who is speaking. Also, in chapter two there are many characters, which can make it somewhat difficult to know and remember who is who within the storyline. Although at times her choice of words or the plot can confuse me, I took an AP Literature as a senior in high school; we had