The Red Pony

Sage is a motif that develops the theme of The Connection Between People and Their Environment. Sage is a plant that is native to the Salinas Valley and is mentioned as a key feature of the landscape in all of the Tiflin ranch stories. Sage is described as “sweet” (152), and its bushes are described as “tall” (164). These characteristics align the sage with the positive and powerful imagery of the water-pipe in the brush line. In the springtime, “The sagebrushes shone with new silver leaves and the oaks wore hoods of green” (179). Here, sage is associated with the color silver, which echoes the use of color in John Steinbeck’s other descriptions.

The cypress tree on the Tiflin ranch is an important symbol in most of the installments of The Red Pony stories. It is where pigs are slaughtered, so it represents death and darkness to Jody. He considers it an unlucky place, but not as mysterious and terrifying as the mountains to the west of the valley. The cypress tree is contrasted with the water tub on the ranch. To Jody, “the black cypress tree by the bunkhouse was as repulsive as the water-tub was dear” (189).