Controversy In John Steinbeck's The Red Pony

Because Janie wanted to get away from Logan, she quickly decides to run away and marry Jody. At first Jody treats her wonderfully and has big ideas for their future. Soon, however, Janie realizes that Jody worries more about his reputation and ego then he does for her. He wants everything in his life to be perfect, including Janie. When Janie asks Jody if she can go to the dragging out of the mule, Jody promptly denies her because the mayor’s wife “wouldn’t be seen at uh draggin’out” (60).

Carlson complains to Slim about Candy’s dog and suggests, "Whyn't you get Candy to shoot his old dog and give him one of the pups to raise up? I can smell that dog a mile away. Got no teeth, damn near blind, can't eat. Candy feeds him milk. He can't chew nothing else" (Steinbeck 35).

(87) More specifically, the other men on the ranch refuse to talk to her because Curley’s position of power on the ranch portrays him as having the ability to have any man on the ranch lose their job. Furthermore, when Curley’s wife was conversing with Lennie in the barn and confided in him, she said: “Well, I ain’t

This causes her to receive very little respect from the other men at the ranch and gain many derogatory names. Curley’s wife is also very forthcoming with private information, by reason that she has nobody to talk to. Therefore, anytime someone on the ranch will listen to her or give her the time of day, she will tell them everything she needs to get off her chest. She feels no regret in telling complete strangers about her personal life as well as her dreams and aspirations. She was so alienated and lonely on the ranch that no one even noticed when Lennie had broken her neck until they were standing over her dead

Waiting a few minutes before she spoke, Phyllis, whispered, “That ole bitch’ knows I’ll do anything necessary to keep Frank and Jerry. It takes both of them to complete my life. I could take care of her in a heartbeat without any regrets. Wait a minute. I knew she wasn’t…”

Because Curley’s wife is so alone, she goes to find someone to talk to. While other men are out playing horseshoe, she finds Lennie in the barn by himself. She begins to talk to him because she doesn’t know what else to do with herself. She is not fully aware of Lennie’s mental illness, however; she knows he acts like a little child and she knows he has just killed a puppy. “You’re a kinda nice fella.

(Steinbeck 45). When Curley’s wife tries to call for help Lennie muffles her cries and starts to get angry with her. “ "Look out, now, you'll muss it." And then she cried angrily, "You stop it now, you'll mess it all up. "

Such as Curley’s wife who barely have anything to do but to walk around the ranch and watch the men doing their work, until she told Lennie that she “don't like Curley... he ain’t a nice feel”(89). With Curley’s wife saying this it shows that she never wanted to be with him. That might also be why she walks around the ranch all day long, to get away from Curley.

She is the only girl on the ranch, and because of this, she faces difficulties from the boys. Curley’s Wife was just trying to find someone to confide in, and Lennie was there, but because she could cause trouble, Lennie wasn’t allowed to talk to her. She says to Lennie, “‘Why can’t I talk to you? I never get to talk to nobody. I get awful lonely’” (86).

”I shouldn’t oughtta let no stranger shoot my dog.” It was Candy’s dog like lennie is george's friend. These events show how Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to the event of Lennie’s death in the book Of Mice And

"You seen what they done to my dog tonight? They says he wasn 't no good to himself nor nobody else. When they can me here I wisht somebody 'd shoot me..." - ( Steinbeck, 60. ) Candy, and his dog.

Steinbeck states in the novel, “You seen what they done to my dog tonight?”(60). An example of Candy telling George and Lennie his problems. Candy still feels upset over his dog death by Carlson. But by using that excuse he got George to agree with him, to let him live in the ranch once they earn enough money. With Candy’s help with George and Lennie’s dream, it is easier and now faster for the three of them to get their ranch.

All the men in the ranch see her as a disturbance and do not want to associate with her. As Candy said, “‘I’ve seen her give Slim the eye. Curley’s never seen it. An I’ve seen her give Carlson the eye’” (Steinbeck 28.)

“I’m gonna get him. I’m going for my shotgun. I’ll kill the big son-of-a-bitch myself. I’ll Shoot ‘im in the guts. Come on, you guys” (Steinbeck 96).

This chapter is told by Rat Kiley. Rat was one of Curt Lemon’s closest friend during the war and when he is kill, Rat decides to write Lemon's sister a letter. Rat's letter talks about her brother and the crazy stunts he attempted, he writes about the fun memories they had together, Rat sees the letter as touching and personal; however, Lemon's sister's finds the letter to be inappropriate and disturbing. Curt Lemon’s sister never writes back, causing Rat is offended and angered, as it’s noted his sister never writes back. “The whole platoon stood watching (Rat is shoot the baby water buffalo), feeling all kinds of things, but there wasn't a great deal of pity for the baby water buffalo.