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As the main characters of the two stories "Loverboys" and "Sufficing" feel the sorrow of powerlessness (as a gay person and as an immigrant), in "The Red Convertible" by Louise Erdrich, Lyman's brother, Henry, feels the sorrow of powerlessness as a soldier and as a Native American.
Henry likes to live in an atmosphere of freedom. He likes to travel with his brother, Lyman, and he likes to dance. However, one day, he receives the draft notice from the US Army and he is forced to go to the army regardless of his will. Lyman says, "I always had good luck with numbers, and never worried about the draft myself. I never even had to think about what my number was. But Henry was never lucky in the same way as me" (19).
Henry likes to live in an atmosphere of freedom. He likes to travel with his brother, Lyman, and he likes to dance. However, one day, he receives the draft notice from the US Army and he is forced to go to the army regardless of his will. Lyman says, "I always had good luck with numbers, and never worried about the draft myself. I never even had to think about what my number was. But Henry was never lucky in the same way as me" (19).
As a powerless citizen, Henry has to obey the orders of his country; therefore, he joins the army to fight in the Vietnam War and unfortunately, he becomes a prisoner of the enemy. After he has a hard time in the army for three years, he comes back home. However, Henry is not the man that Lyman had known anymore. He rarely smiles, and he is very nervous. Lyman says, "He'd always had a joke, then, too and now you couldn't get him to laugh, or when he did it was more the sound of a man choking. Henry was jumpy and mean" (19). Henry, who is a victim of the society and war, fought a war for three years as his country commanded. However, the only thing he received in return is psychological trauma. His country holds no liability for Henry's psychological trauma and does not do anything to help him. Therefore, powerless Henry struggles against all the weight and pain of life and the scars of war by himself.
Henry's younger brother, Lyman also feels the sorrow of powerlessness because there is nothing that he can do for his brother who suffers from such mental anguish. He keeps by Henry's side in silence and he travels together with his brother with a small hope that Henry will become the person he used to be. However, he feels frustrated because his efforts are useless.
Henry's sorrow of powerlessness results from socio-political environment of American society. He tries to keep his identity as a Native American (minority group member). However, he cannot keep his identity and furthermore, his civil rights and freedom cannot be guaranteed because of the sweeping changes brought about by war. He has to obey the majority group's command; therefore, he joins the army. Pitiful Henry's final option was to commit suicide. Henry says, "I know it. I can't help it. It's no use" (20). Like the broken-down red car, Henry is mentally broken, and he feels the sorrow of powerlessness because he cannot do anything but languish in his sorrows.
Henry's younger brother, Lyman also feels the sorrow of powerlessness because there is nothing that he can do for his brother who suffers from such mental anguish. He keeps by Henry's side in silence and he travels together with his brother with a small hope that Henry will become the person he used to be. However, he feels frustrated because his efforts are useless.
Henry's sorrow of powerlessness results from socio-political environment of American society. He tries to keep his identity as a Native American (minority group member). However, he cannot keep his identity and furthermore, his civil rights and freedom cannot be guaranteed because of the sweeping changes brought about by war. He has to obey the majority group's command; therefore, he joins the army. Pitiful Henry's final option was to commit suicide. Henry says, "I know it. I can't help it. It's no use" (20). Like the broken-down red car, Henry is mentally broken, and he feels the sorrow of powerlessness because he cannot do anything but languish in his sorrows.