On May 1, Books on Tap discussed The Red Pony by John Steinbeck.  Participants had mixed reactions to the book. One reader described it as being “bleak” due to the theme of loss running throughout all of the stories. Many felt the death of the pony and the pregnant mare were tragic and sad. Readers were left with a strong sense of loss after both events, especially the red pony’s death, because it represents Jody’s loss of innocence. The story of the birth of the colt coming at the cost of its mother’s life emphasizes the interconnectedness of life and death.

Should the novella have been called The Jody Stories vs. The Red Pony? Many participants thought so because of Jody’s varying relationships with each of the characters. Most of the discussion centered around the attitudes and actions of the characters.  Billy Buck was a favorite character as was Jody’s mother, and it was agreed that the red pony was the star character. The character of Gitano, with his connection to the older, more romanticized vision of the West, represents a fading era. 

The group discussed how vastly different all of the characters are. Jody’s father is very domineering and Jody’s relationship with him was strained whereas Jody’s relationship with his grandfather is marked by respect and a shared love for the land and its traditions. Participants found it hard to sympathize with the father. Carl was tough on Jody, but that challenged Jody and allowed him to evolve. Jody eventually challenges Carl’s authority thus asserting his own independence and eventually coming to have a slightly more mature understanding of the world. At the end of the novella when Jody is getting lemonade for his grandfather, he’s looking outside of himself and sympathizing with the feelings of someone other than himself. Jody’s mother was a supportive character but very hands off.  One reader pointed out that she allowed Jody to grow up on his own and her character explores the idea of legacy and the passing down of traditions from one generation to the next. Billy Buck is a likeable character and  a pillar of Jody’s  life – although after the death of the red pony, Jody realized Billy can also make mistakes.

Was Jody stifled? Many felt he was a normal kid – although he was often isolated and bored which led to his delving into troublesome situations like the killing of the mice. The mice stories and the story of the death of his beloved pony Gabilan and other animals on the ranch serve as a reminder of the natural order of things, where life is often fleeting and unpredictable.

The Cyprus tree is symbolic of death and loss in the stories. It’s where the pigs are slaughtered,, and this act of killing is a stark reminder of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. Jody feels an unsettling presence around the tree, associating it with bad luck and unease. The tree stands in contrast to the water tub which is a symbol of renewal and the continuing cycle of life.

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