Literary Analysis The Red Pony
The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck, consists of four separate but intertwined stories about a boy named Jody. These stories show how Jody began as a selfish, immature young child, and became a caring, responsible young man. Steinbeck used characters and events to teach Jody about life and death. He also used much imagery and foreshadowing to set the mood for the stories. In the first story, "The Gift," Jody Tiflin was a typical ten-year-old boy who liked to sleep as late as possible and rush through his early morning chores before going to school. When he came home from school, he did his chores slowly and inefficiently. Billy Buck, the ranch hand, convinced Carl Tiflin, Jody's father, to buy a pony for Jody. Billy thought this would help Jody become more responsible. Carl & Billy went to the town of Salinas one day and surprised Jody with the pony the next morning. Jody named his new red pony Gabilan, after the mountains to the west about which he is so curious. Billy Buck taught Jody everything he knew about horses and Jody was responsible for taking care of Gabilan. He became more disciplined: He got up every morning by himself to feed Gabilan and he took more care when he was
He wanted to learn from the older generation in order to be prepared for life. Jody became very doubtful of Nellie bearing a colt and asked for Billy's assurance over and over. After talking to Billy, Jody sat underneath the black cypress tree, the symbol of death, and imagined that Nellie would have a black stallion named Black Demon. The final chapter, "The Leader of the People," is the climax of The Red Pony. This was a sign that Jody was maturing, that he was thinking about how others felt and not just about his own feelings. Jody begged to be present for the delivery. Nellie gave birth and died in February, a time of death and barrenness. When Jody felt sad, upset, or ashamed, he went to the mossy green tub filled with spring water and washed himself as if cleansing himself of a sin (pg 37). Jody understood this and began to grow in his understanding of death. He got his colt, but only through the sacrifice of others. Carl compared Gitano to Easter by saying that they were both old and useless and should be put out of their misery. Jody, being a normal child, was rebellious and stubborn, going against his father's will. Getting the pony helped Jody to learn responsibility. This was foreshadowing what was to happen later in this chapter.
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