Purity and Innocence
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- The Outcasts of Poker Flat study guide contains a biography of Bret Harte, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte was adapted for Special English and read by Jim Tedder. Hear or download this story. Short Story: ‘The Luck of Roaring Camp’ by Bret Harte.
Because the story's premise is the exile of several townspeople from Poker Flat, the line between innocence and guilt is built into the plot from the beginning. Referring to the town's disapproval of prostitution, the narrator says, 'it was only in such easily established standards of evil that Poker Flat ventured to sit in judgment.' In this way, Poker Flat draws a sharp line delimiting that which is conventionally or legally prohibited, whereas the story's narrator makes room for ambiguity as it relates to good and evil. The theme of hidden innocence is particularly embodied by Tom Simson, referred to as 'the Innocent,' and his bride, Piney Woods, both of whom are categorically innocent people blending with those whom society has termed guilty. Although Uncle Billy proves Poker Flat's judgment right by taking advantage of his fellow exiles, others in the party sacrifice themselves for the good of the group (Mother Shipton), a gesture that alludes to Christ's crucifixion, which is similarly in tune with notions of innocence and purity. The relentless snow that plagues the group likewise provides the symbolic space for the characters to be cleansed and purified. Ultimately, the citizens of Poker Flat must confront their own guilt when they discover the frozen remains of the exiled party in the mountains.
Chance, Luck, and Fate
Luck is a looming presence in the story, as the name 'Poker Flat' refers to a card game in which luck is key. Of course, John Oakhurst is himself a gambler who depends on luck and chance for his living. Ultimately, however, he resigns himself to the notion that luck is fickle and 'bound to change,' leaving the deuce of clubs to serve as his tombstone after killing himself. Embedded in the story's treatment of chance, luck, and fate, however, is the question of human agency. Although the party is exiled, they believe they'll make it to Sandy Bar until Uncle Billy steals their mules. Both Mother Shipton and John Oakhurst likewise demonstrate their own agency in controlling their fate by taking their own lives. On the other hand, the events of the story are strongly influenced by the relentless snow, a force of nature outside the realm of human agency and seemingly determining each character's fate.
The Outcasts Of Poker Flat Theme
God
Religion is introduced at the start of the story when John Oakhurst notices a 'Sabbath lull' in the air, which he interprets as a sign of his impending exile. Later, Tom Simson prompts the group to sing, 'I'm proud to live in the service of the Lord, And I'm bound to die in His army,' foreshadowing their eventual deaths. A powerful symbol of God's presence is the snow that falls throughout the group's stay in the mountains, as it both symbolizes a spiritual cleansing of the exiles and dooms them to die in each other's arms.
'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte. An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat' was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. It was one of two short stories which brought the author national attention.
Plot summary[edit]
The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Poker Flat is, in the opinions of many, on a downward slope. The town has lost thousands of dollars, and has experienced a moral. In an effort to save what is left of the town and reestablish it as a 'virtuous' place, a secret society is created to decide whom to exile and whom to kill. On November 23rd of 1850, four 'immoral' individuals are exiled from Poker Flat. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst. He is among those sent away because of his great success in winning from those on the secret committee. On his way out of town, he is joined by The Duchess, a saloon girl; Mother Shipton, a madam; and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. These four set out for a camp which is a day's journey away, over a mountain range. Once halfway there, all exiles other than Oakhurst decide to stop at noon for a rest, against Oakhurst's wishes.
While on their rest, the group is met by a pair of runaway lovers on their way to Poker Flat to get married. Piney Woods is a fifteen-year-old girl. Her lover, Tom Simson, known also as 'the Innocent', met Oakhurst before and has great admiration for him, as Oakhurst won a great deal of money from Tom. Oakhurst returned the money and pressed upon Tom that the latter should never play poker again, as he was a terrible player. Nonetheless, Tom is thrilled to have come upon Oakhurst on this day, and decides that he and Piney will stay with the group for a while. They do not know that the group is one of exiles; 'innocent' as they are, they are convinced The Duchess is an actual duchess, and so on.
A decision is made for everyone to stay the night together. Tom leads the group to a half-butty cabin he discovered, where they spend the night. In the middle of the night, Oakhurst wakes up and sees a heavy snowstorm raging. Looking about, he realizes that he is the only one awake, but soon discovers someone had awoken before him: Uncle Billy is missing, with the group's mules and horses stolen. They are all now forced to wait out the storm with provisions that will likely only last for another 10 days. After a week in the cabin, Mother Shipton dies, having secretly and altruistically starved herself for young Piney. Oakhurst fashions some snowshoes for Simson to go for help, telling the others he will accompany the young man part of the way to Poker Flat. The 'law of Poker Flat' finally arrives at the cabin, only to find the dead Duchess and Piney, embracing in a peaceful repose. They look so peaceful and innocent that the onlookers cannot tell which is the virgin and which is the madam.
Oakhurst has committed suicide. He is found dead beneath a tree with his Derringer's bullet in his heart. There is a playing card, the two of clubs, pinned to the tree above his head with a note:
BENEATH THIS TREELIES THE BODY OF JOHN OAKHURST, WHO STRUCK A STREAK OF BAD LUCK ON THE 23rd OF NOVEMBER, 1850, AND HANDED IN HIS CHECKS ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850.
Characters[edit]
- John Oakhurst
One of the story's heroes, Oakhurst is occasionally frank but kind in motivation. He is chivalrous, insisting upon switching his good riding horse Five Spot for the mule of the Duchess and refusing to use vulgar language. Another instance of his good nature is: 'Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent. Don't try it ever again.' He then handed him back his money back, [and] pushed him gently from the room'. Oakhurst is not a drinker. He is cool tempered, even keeled and has a calm manner about him. He believes in luck and fate. His suicide spurs the question whether he was simply giving in to his bad luck or rather, decided he was no longer going to live by luck and took his life.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations[edit]
Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in 1919 with Harry Carey, in 1937 with Preston Foster, and in 1952 with Dale Robertson. The spaghetti westernFour of the Apocalypse is based on this story and another of Harte's stories, 'The Luck of Roaring Camp'.
Operas based on The Outcasts of Poker Flats include those by Samuel Adler,[1]Jaromir Weinberger,[2] Stanworth Beckler,[3] and Andrew Earle Simpson.[4]
References[edit]
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2006-08-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Jaromir Weinberger – Outcasts of Poker Flat – Opera'. boosey.com.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2006-08-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^Andrew Earle Simpson. 'Coming to The Capital Fringe Festival: 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat''. DCMetroTheaterArts.
External links[edit]
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Theme In The Story Outcast Of Poker Flat
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat public domain audiobook at LibriVox
- The Outcasts of Poker Flat – Annotated text + analyses aligned to Common Core Standards