Silas Bird

Silas, a twelve year old boy, is the protagonist and first person narrator in Pony. The narrative follows his coming of age as his leaves the comforts of his childhood to find his father, Martin Bird. At the outset of the novel, he lives a sheltered life on the farm with Pa and his ghost friend, Mittenwool. Silas’s understanding of the world is largely informed by novels, myths, and the stories his father recounts. While he is intellectually intelligent, the main character lacks life experience and lives in fear of the world. When a posse of bandits abducts Pa, Silas is forced to face his childhood fears, venture in the Woods alone, and assume the responsibilities of an adult.

Silas’s physical and emotional journey facilitates the narrative claim that coming of age is not a linear process. While the narrator is a scared child when...