The Red Pony

“Nearly all of his father’s presents were given with reservations which diminished their value somewhat. It was good discipline.”

This quote develops the character of Carl and the relationship between Carl and Jody. Carl is primarily a disciplinarian, and the gift of the pony is meant to teach Jody responsibility.

“They knew Jody had been miraculously lifted out of equality with them, and had been placed over them.”

This passage occurs when Jody shows six boys from his school his pony. He and his schoolmates believe that having a horse makes one a superior person.

“He told Jody a great many things about horses.”

This quote illustrates the initial relationship between Billy and Jody. Jody listens to, and unconditionally believes, all the things Billy says. The pony becoming ill due to Billy’s incorrect prediction of the weather ends Jody’s hero-worship of Billy.

“The pony would probably throw him.”

Here, Jody fears how Gabilan, the pony, will react the first time he tries to ride it. His fear of falling off the horse is mixed with his determination to get back on the horse. This develops the theme of Jody’s Coming of Age. 

“But you might have to do something else. You might leave him.”

This passage is Jody’s response to Billy saying that he will stay with the sick pony. It demonstrates how Jody has started to doubt Billy’s assertions, developing the theme of the Relationships Between Men and Boys.

“The pony will be all right.”

Here, Jody’s mother, Ruth, reassures him that Billy can cure Gabilan. Ruth supports Jody and defers to Billy’s expertise with horses. At this point, she is outside of the interpersonal dynamics between the male people on the ranch—she has not fallen from grace like Billy.

“It was Billy Buck who was angry.”

This is an example of the interpersonal dynamic between Carl, Billy, and Jody, or the Relationship Between Men and Boys. Carl chastises Jody for killing a buzzard that attacked the dying pony, and this makes Billy angry, partly because of his guilt over the dead pony.

“Why, I’ve read there’s more unexplored country in the mountains of Monterey County than any place in the United States.”

Carl proudly declares this when Jody asks about the mountains. This quote develops the theme of The Connection Between People and Their Environment. Carl values nature that is untouched by people and deliberately chooses to live and work at the edge of that untouched nature.

“When the peaks were pink in the morning they invited him among them: and when the sun had gone over the edge in the evening and the mountains were a purple-like despair, then Jody was afraid of them; then they were so impersonal and aloof that their very imperturbability was a threat.”

This is another quote that develops the theme of The Connection Between People and Their Environment. As in other descriptions of the natural world, John Steinbeck uses colorful imagery to offer a sense of place while demonstrating Jody’s fear of the “purple-like despair” of the mountains.

“I am Gitano, and I have come back.”

Gitano returns to the ranch, where he was born, near the end of his life. His presence complicates the interpersonal dynamic between the male characters, and he comes to represent a resistance to Carl’s rigidity and condemnation of Carl’s view of Gitano as a useless old man.

“Carl didn’t like to be cruel, but he felt he must.”

Carl believes that he must treat Gitano cruelly. Carl compares the old man to an old horse named Easter and tells Gitano he cannot stay at the ranch. Carl prioritizes people who can work over people who need assistance, like the elderly, and rejects the idea of retirement.

“Be a good thing for all of us if ham and eggs grew on the side-hills.”

This is one of the cruel comments Carl makes about Gitano and retirement. Carl would take Gitano in if ham and eggs grew on the hills. Steinbeck argues that the world would be a better place if every person’s basic needs were taken care of through the character of Gitano in “The Great Mountains.” 

“A longing caressed him, and it was so sharp that he wanted to cry to get it out of his breast. He lay down in the green grass near the round tub at the brush line. He covered his eyes with his crossed arms and lay there a long time, and he was full of a nameless sorrow.”

This is Jody’s reaction to Gitano taking the old horse Easter into the mountains. The water tub symbolizes a sanctuary. Jody goes to it to look for peace of mind after being upset by his father’s treatment of Gitano and Gitano disappearing into the mountains that Jody fears.

“Jody felt that all such foolishness was lost in the past. He was far too grown up ever to put horny-toads in his lunch pail any more.”

In this passage, Jody changes his mind about collecting amphibians and insects because his father gives him the responsibility of a new pony. Jody attempting to change his habits due to this responsibility develops the theme of Jody’s Coming of Age.

“And sometimes if it’s wrong, you have to […] tear the colt to pieces to get it out or the mare’ll die.”

Billy warns Jody that complications at birth might result in having to sacrifice the colt in order to save the mare. However, Billy’s guilt over Gabilan’s death causes him to choose the colt over the mare. This develops the theme of Relationships Between Men and Boys.

“Jody was not a boy anymore, and Demon was not a horse. The two together were one glorious individual.”

While the mare Nellie is pregnant, Jody daydreams about taking his new horse, Black Demon, to the rodeo. Jody wants to use the horse to win attention and favor from other people. However, he also dreams he will bond strongly with the horse.

“He wished he believed everything Billy said as he had before the pony died.”

This quote demonstrates how Jody’s opinion of Billy changes dramatically, developing the theme of the Relationships Between Men and Boys. Jody blames Billy for the pony’s death, despite the fact that Jody was the one who repeatedly let the sick pony get out of the barn. This illustrates Jody’s character—he refuses to take responsibility. 

“He tried to be glad because of the colt, but the bloody face, and the haunted, tired eyes of Billy Buck hung in the air ahead of him.”

Here, Jody is emotionally conflicted because Billy kills the mare Nellie to save her colt. Nellie’s death is part of Jody’s Coming of Age. He recognizes the “haunted, tired” eyes of Billy but does not release him from his guilt.

“Carl Tiflin insisted upon giving permission for anything done on the ranch, whether it was important or not.”

This quote develops Carl’s character. He likes to be in control, even when it isn’t necessary. However, Jody’s repeated mistakes shed some light onto why Carl has such strict rules.

“Grandfather considered him a boy.”

This passage is about Billy, and it is ironic because Billy is middle-aged. Grandfather views Billy as having a life ahead of him, and he believes he would have made an excellent traveler. It further develops the theme of Relationships Between Men and Boys.

“‘I knew your father, Billy […] a fine man he was. They called him Mule-tail Buck. I don’t know why except he packed mules.’ ‘That was it,’ Billy agreed. ‘He packed mules.’”

This is some dialogue between Grandfather and Billy. Grandfather’s connection to Billy’s father extends the relationships between male characters. Billy’s relationship to his father can be contrasted with the relationship between Carl and Jody. Billy admires his father and shares many similarities with him, while Carl and Jody have yet to fully comprehend each other.

“It was a job for men, but boys want to hear about it.”

This passage is Grandfather’s meta commentary on his stories about westward expansion. He had to be a responsible adult to lead people west, but it is irresponsible children—like Jody—who want to hear his stories.

“‘I’ll bet they don’t know what’s going to happen to them today.’ ‘No, nor you either,’ Billy remarked philosophically, ‘nor me, nor anyone.’”

Here, Jody is talking about his plans to kill the unsuspecting mice. However, Billy turns Jody’s flippant comment into a meaningful assertion about the nature of life.