Critical Analysis of “The Red Pony,” by John Steinbeck

“The Red Pony,” by John Steinbeck is a classic story about an immature young boy faced with the realities of birth and death. Although “The Red Pony” may at first glance appear to be a light tale for young readers, it is actually considerably deeper in application and scope, dealing with feelings of rage, sorrow, and futility. A particularly interesting aspect of “The Red Pony” is John Steinbeck’s use of incompletion to add depth and feeling to the stories.

The Gift

The main character of “The Red Pony” is Jody Tiflin, a ten year old boy with “hair like dusty yellow grass and shy polite gray eyes.” Read the rest »

Critical Analysis of “The Pearl,” by John Steinbeck

“The Pearl,” by John Steinbeck is the story of a poor Indian couple who find a pearl of immense value.

Kino and his wife Juana live in a small brush hut with their young baby Coyotito. At the start of “The Pearl” John Steinbeck shows Kino and his family living a peaceful life filled with the sound of the whispering surf, and the beautiful “Song of the Family,” the song of safety and warmth.

In the midst of this pleasant scene Steinbeck introduces the first evil which will touch Kino and his family: a scorpion which threatens the baby Coyotito. Read the rest »

Critical Analysis of “The Art and Craft of the Machine,” by Frank Lloyd Wright

“The Art and Craft of the Machine,” by Frank Lloyd Wright is a grand, visionary piece that summarizes the philosophy behind Wright’s approach to architecture. The key player in Wright’s discourse is the Machine. Wright endeavors to define the scope and power of the Machine. Then he contrasts the ill effects of its abuse with the good that directed use of the Machine’s power can do in the fields of Art and Craft.

In the first part of “The Art and Craft of the Machine” Wright shows that throughout history the Machine has been used to hinder and ruin Art. Read the rest »

Critical Analysis of “The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck

“The Grapes of Wrath,” by John Steinbeck is a classic novel noted for its descriptive quality, and fascinating writing techniques. However, its seemingly historical theme is mainly designed to promote socialistic theories.

“The Grapes of Wrath” was greatly influenced by the background and associates of its writer, John Steinbeck. When Steinbeck left Stanford College in 1925 to become a writer, he came into association with Leftist and Socialistic advocates. For example, one of his friends during the process of producing “The Grapes of Wrath” was Francis Whitaker, a member of the Communist Party’s John Reed club for writers. Read the rest »