Contrasting symbols in “Stones” and ” The Red Convertible”

The symbols in both short stories are very much different. They are physically different but in some way they may interconnect to somehow be relate able. The most important symbol in “The Red Convertible” is the car alone. The red bright car symbolizes the young, bright, and exciting relationship shared intimately between Lyman and Henry. Before the war, the car is in excellent condition and the boys are overjoyed. The boys care for each other and spend almost all of there time together and their actions and the road trip they embark on show this. While the wart is going on, Henry and Lyman are not together and the car is left alone in the garage. When Henry returns from war, he is a changed man. Lyman wants to regain the relationship they shared before but when he fails in doing so, he destroys the car. Destroying the car is symbolic of destroying the relationship. As the story comes to a close and Henry drowns and becomes lost forever, Lyman launches the car into the river to sink with him. This represents that the relationship they once shared is now gone forever. The stones are a symbol as well. Stones are often viewed as cold and lifeless and this can be compared to David after he returned from War. He was very different and ti was not good. David did not want any emotional contact with anyone but maybe if he let Ben in to love and care for him, things would of been different. David wanted his ashes with his fellow dead soldiers in Dieppe so there would be a “stone among stones.” “ The stones are treacherous, But they are also beautiful.” This is very symbolic because David himself is treacherous. He decided to fight for his country even though it emotionally destroyed him. He was a very brave and filled with courage.