... " (Folsom 2276). This system of production and finance involves innumerable instances of cruel hardship and injustice (Beach 5). In addition, the depiction of environment and nature in Steinbeck's stories also help to illustrate his characters as those who are being forcefully controlled. In The Red Pony, nature plays a very important role. The main character Jody learns more of nature's ambiguous promises when ... his father has one of his mares put to stud to give the boy another colt. The birth is complicated and the mare must be killed to save the colt, demonstrating that life and de...

• Word Count: 1220
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate