The short stories, Mericans by Cisneros and The Red Convertible by Erdrich, have a lot in common and both of their purposes are to show the combination of different cultures. Both stories convey how different people deal with having a combination of two cultures. The combination of different cultures can be seen through the plot, symbolism and the story's' simple writing style.
             The purpose behind the short story Mericans, is to show the combination of Mexican and American cultures. In the story the grandmother expects the children to participate in her religious traditions instead of playing American games outside. There is also a culture clash when the American tourists believe that the children cannot speak or understand English but it turns out they are tourists themselves and they know English very well. The children show their acceptance of both cultures through the games they play; Lone Ranger and Flash Gordon. In the short story, The Red Convertible, the main characters in the story are two Native American brothers named Henry and Lyman. Lyman, is trying to define who he is and what is important to him. The atmosphere in which he lives in offers him two different lifestyles, his own native culture, and the American culture. Lyman begins by favoring the more well off white culture or the American culture. Henry has a harder life, in that he moves from a suitable life to a completely devastated life. Before Henry leaves to go to war he is an outgoing young man and the red convertible is described as, "large as life, as if it was alive" After returning from the war, Henry is messed up mentally and for a while is not connected with anything other then a television. Lyman separates himself from the native culture and try's to succeed in the American world; buying the red convertible which is a sign that he is making this change.
             Symbolism is seen throughout both sho
             ...