John Steinbeck’s The Red Pony isn’t what it seems. The red pony is more of a red herring, and readers should take care not to misinterpret the book as a coming-of-age story where 10-year-old Jody Tiflin learns to deal with real life through the responsibility of taking care of a red pony. Instead, the story is focused on Jody’s growth and maturation, but contains much darker content and themes of unnecessary violence and animal cruelty. 

Tragedy strikes quickly, and despite the first chapter’s focus on the red pony, the rest of the book moves on from it entirely. Though it doesn’t appear for most of the book, however, the red pony is impactful. It serves as a symbol of Jody’s youth and innocence, as well as a sore spot for Billy Buck, the Tiflins’ ranch-hand, driving some of his later actions. 

The story is on the shorter end at just under 100 pages, but the cruel experiences of the animals in it can make it hard to read. Violence is embedded deep within the story. It’s done unnecessarily as a sign of grief, done out of ‘boredom’, and out of what the book describes as simply mean-spiritedness. It’s particularly alarming when it’s done to animals—something that happens all too frequently in this book. Steinbeck doesn’t shy away from gruesome details, reinforcing the harsh realities Jody is exposed to. 

Historical context is also important to consider, especially near the end of the book. As theTiflins live on a ranch in California, Steinbeck uses a new character to touch on the country’s westward expansion, writing about the romanticized era and how some were stuck in the past. There’s a certain harshness and cruelty mentioned concerning the Indigenous people encountered in the “westering”. However, these stories are again wrapped up as romanticized, heroic tales that paint them as obstacles to expansion. 

The Red Pony might not be what it seems, but readers should just take caution about the themes in the book. Steinbeck addresses human cruelty, violence, and grief with strained relationships and heavy symbolism. For readers who aren’t deterred by the gory details, The Red Pony can be an impactful read.