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Eda Lou Walton, a critic for theBecause The Red Pony first appeared as a limited edi- Nation detested the book.She excoriated Stein-tion in 1937 costing $10, an exorbitant price at the beck s work for its forced and obvious symbolism, time, many commentators focused on the decision of lack of authenticity, and reliance on Freudianthe publisher or author to issue the slim volume of psychology. three stories to such a small audience and for such a With the addition of The Leader of the People ludicrous cost.For example, Time magazine s critic a year later in The Long Valley, critics uniformlyexpressed bafflement at the famine price of the praised The Red Pony as the best of the collection of 178 The Red Ponystories.The New York Herald Tribune s reviewer, Jody to a novitiate in an ancient search for mean-William Soskin, called the novella magic, prais- ing beyond the day-to-day routine of life.For theing Steinbeck for his thoroughly realistic grasp of young boy the Great Mountains offer a sense oflife in the child s perspective, and added that it is wonder and mystery, and Jody seeks answers fromhard to recall a work so impressive. LEWIS GAN- Gitano about the deep secrets of the mountainsNETT, also writing for the Herald Tribune, indicated where he had journeyed as a boy.Just as one can- the Jody stories are almost miraculously good. not have a direct knowledge of God, Gitano cannotFrom the New York World Telegram, Harry Hansen express a direct knowledge of the mountains.Jodytold his readers, Don t miss The Red Pony, while begins to understand that certain mysteries cannotRed Thompson of the New York Times particularly be articulated, only experienced.liked Steinbeck s characterization of Jody, writing Richard Astro finds The Red Pony a valuablethat the combination of toughness and tenderness tool to probe the complexities of Steinbeck s non-make [Jody] a memorable figure. One of the New teleological viewpoint.According to Astro, Stein-Yorker s critics, Clifton Fadiman, called The Red beck deliberate avoids characterizing any of thePony a masterpiece and a heart-breakingly true central figures of the book as bad or good. Topicture of childhood. do so would require a retreat to teleological think-ing by which all actions are judged by ultimateCONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVESgoals or rigid principles.Astro states that SteinbeckThe Red Pony remains a rich source of literary objectively lives into the lives of the Tiflins, andanalysis.Like much of his work, Steinbeck move(s) beyond causes and reasons to the wholeintended the book to be read on many levels.picture. Moreover, since the four stories were written over aSYNOPSISfive-year period, from 1932 to 1938, they demon-strate Steinbeck s increasing aptitude with his pro- The Gift fession.As John Timmerman has noted, The Red The title refers to an unexpected present fromPony shows the author s growing skill in translating Jody s father, Carl Tiflin, an undemonstrative andhis own personal and unremarkable experiences rigid disciplinarian whose numerous regulationsinto universal fables through the alchemy of art. chafe at Jody s boyish desire for freedom fromPeter Lisca, noting Steinbeck s childhood famil- restraint.Without fanfare, Carl acquires a red coltiarity with The Golden Bough, a book which for his son at a sheriff s auction, with the stipula-included a chapter on puberty rites, suggests that tion that the pony will be sold if Jody fails to careone of the central themes of The Red Pony is Jody s for the animal.In this, Carl wishes to please hispassage through a lengthy initiation ceremony that son, but also wants to teach self-discipline to thetakes him from the innocence of childhood to the slightly unruly boy, a more lasting and valuablemysteries of adulthood.Though Jody s experiences bequest in Carl s mind.Finally, the gift refers to thedo not involve the elaborate rituals of primitive unswerving patience of Billy Buck, the Tiflin hiredcultures, nevertheless he must fulfill specific tasks hand, who shows Jody how to provide for and trainin order to pass to the next level until he is finally the young horse, often over the objections of Carlrewarded with recognition of his manhood.The Tiflin, who eventually begins to resent Jody s obses-deaths of the pony Gabilan and of the mare Nellie sion with the colt and the closeness of his son torepresent blood sacrifices that often accompany Billy Buck.tribal initiation rites, and introduce Jody to the Jody names the pony Gabilan after the moun- existence of death and evil in the world view tains edging the Salinas Valley to the east, becausewhich is his inheritance as an adult. they are the grandest and prettiest thing he knew. Continuing this examination of the spiritual Immediately, the boy shows a new maturity, groom-component to the novella, Richard F.Peterson ing the animal at first light before he goes to schoolcompares the old paisano, Gitano, to a priest, and and becoming more conscientious about his routine The Red Pony 179chores on the Tiflin ranch.He acquires a certain keep the horse alive.Eventually Billy performs arespect among his schoolmates as a horse owner, tracheotomy on the colt with Jody s assistance, andand although the pony is still too young to ride, Jody Jody sleeps in the barn to monitor Gabilan s illness
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