Purity and Innocence
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
The Outcasts of Poker Flat essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte. How Social Deviancy Shaped the West in Bret Harte’s Fiction E-Text of The Outcasts of Poker Flat.
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.
Outcasts Of Poker Flat Analysis
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 story is located in Poker Flat, a small Californian community. Certain inhabitants of Poker Flat feel that the community is going down the hill. They have lost a lot of money and the morals of people are thought to be sinking. Consequently a secret committee is elected. This committee decides who will be killed and who expatriated. On November 23, 1850 four people are exiled. The party consists of Duchess, a saloon girl; Mother Shipton, a madam; Uncle Billy, a local drunk and thief; and John Oakhurst, a poker player, who won a lot of money from the people sitting on the secret committee. The four characters get together and leave Poker Flat, heading for a one day’s journey to a nearby camp. After hours of traveling, Oakhurst’s companions get tired, and despite his remonstrances they decide to stop and rest.
The Outcasts Of Poker Flat
Meanwhile, Oakhurst encounters young runaway couple, Piney Woods and Tom Simons, heading to Poker Flat to get married. Tom Simons, also called “The Innocent” has met Oakhurst before. They played Poker together, and Oakhurst won a great deal of money from him. Afterwards, he told Tom never to play poker again, and returned him his money. As a result of this Tom feels positively towards Oakhurst. He is thrilled to see him, and the young couple decides to spent some time with the group, obviously unaware of the fact that they were exiled for being immoral. Tom leads the group to an old cabin that he had found, and they spend the night. Oakhurst wakes up in the early morning and notices it started to snow. Furthermore, he discovers that Uncle Billy has been up long before him and now is gone with all their horses and mules. The rest of the group has no other choice than to wait for ten days until they run out of provisions. As the days go by, Mother Shipton dies of starvation, as she tries to save food for ‘the child’ - Piney. Oakhurst decides that Tom has to go to get some help and he fixes him some snow shoes. Then he tells the two women he will accompany Tom ‘as far as the canyon’. Duchess and Piney stay in the cabin and when their fire dies they fall asleep hugging each other. They look so peaceful and innocent, that when the “law of Poker Flat” finds them, they are unable to tell which one is the sinner, so they turn away and let them be. As for the last, Oakhurst commits suicide.