Skip to main content

In The Red Pony, what does Billy do to help the pony breathe?

When the pony, Gabilan, is very ill, having trouble breathing and only taking air in with an unnatural whistling, hissing sound, Billy helps the pony breathe by cutting a small hole into his windpipe. 


It works: even though the poor animal is bleeding from the cut, he is able to breathe through the new hole and stay alive, at least for the time being.


This emergency operation is traumatic for Jody to witness, but...

When the pony, Gabilan, is very ill, having trouble breathing and only taking air in with an unnatural whistling, hissing sound, Billy helps the pony breathe by cutting a small hole into his windpipe. 


It works: even though the poor animal is bleeding from the cut, he is able to breathe through the new hole and stay alive, at least for the time being.


This emergency operation is traumatic for Jody to witness, but he disregards Billy's instructions to leave and insists on staying right there with his beloved pony. And as the story comes to a close shortly after this scene, Gabilan doesn't make it--his death is heartbreaking for Jody, and for us, the readers. This sad episode can be understood in the context of the whole novel as the first of Jody's experiences with how terrible life can be. It shapes his understanding of nature, and of life, with its bittersweet mixture of tragedy and happiness.


You can find the scene involving Billy's operation on the pony toward the end of the first of the novel's four stories. (In my version of the text, it's on page 31.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is hyperbole in the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry?

The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his... The most obvious use of hyperbole in "The Gift of the Magi" occurs when the narrator describes Della's and Jim's evaluations of their two treasures—her long, luxuriant hair and his gold watch. Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him plu
Post a Comment
Read more

How can I analyze Moon and Six Pence by Somerset Maugham?

In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of... In "Moon and Sixpence," loosely based on the life of Paul Gaugin, Maugham presents a study of the tension between the "civilized" life of 19th century Europe, and the lead character's desire to throw off the shackles of bourgeois life. Charles Strickland is a middle-aged English stockbroker with a wife and family. By abandoning his domestic life, Strickland commits what many in European society would consider a gross betrayal of one of the foundations of that society. His decision to e
Post a Comment
Read more

What are some literary devices in Macbeth, Act V, Scene 1?

Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not... Act V, Scene i of Macbeth certainly continues the imagery that is prevalent in the play with its phantasmagoric realm, as in this scene a succession of things are seen or imagined by Lady Macbeth. Imagery - The representation of sensory experience Lady Macbeth imagines that she sees bloody spots (visual imagery) on the stairs; she also smells blood (olfactory imagery): Here's the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh! oh, oh! (5.1.53-55) Hyperbole - Obvious exaggeration  There is also h
Post a Comment
Read more