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 doing his other chores. Billy Buck was right. Getting the pony helped Jody to learn responsibility. Jody never left Gabilan outside when the weather was bad. One day Billy Buck convinced Jody to leave the pony out while he was at school. Billy promised that the weather was going to be fine and that it was not going to rain (pg 21). Unfortunately, it did rain and Jody came home to find his pony drenched. The pony developed a "cold" from being out in the rain, but Billy, a great horse doctor, took care of Gabilan. He showed Jody how to make the medicine for the pony, but the medicine didn't help. Billy even cut a hole in Gabilan's windpipe so that he could breathe (pg 31). Jody stayed with Gabilan at night....