The chief antagonist of the story, Uncle Billy is a drunk and a suspected thief (he is believed to steal gold while other people are panning for it) who is exiled from Poker Flat
Why did Oakhurst and Tom leave the camp?
John Oakhurst, the Duchess, and Mother Shipton sympathize with Tom “The Innocent” and his young wife, Piney, and do not want to frighten them. The outcasts fear that revealing their identities and crimes will cause the newlyweds to panic and attempt to leave the camp immediately.
Who is the hero in The Outcasts of Poker Flat?
The protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed “improper”: the Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy.
What has the secret committee of Poker Flat decided to do?
In the third paragraph of the short story, Harte writes that a secret committee is formed and makes the decision to rid Poker Flat of “all improper persons.” Essentially, the secret committee decides to execute and banish all criminals, shady characters, and prostitutes from town .
Who was kicked out of Poker Flat?
Jonathan Beutlich, M.A. The title, “The Outcasts of Poker Flat ,” is referencing the four characters who have been thrown out of the town of Poker Flat. Apparently the town of Poker Flat is a beacon of morality, because the town kicked out John Oakhurst, Mother Shipton, Duchess, and Uncle Billy .
How is John Oakhurst the strongest and the weakest?
In what sense is the “the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat”? Oakhurst- he is strong and generous and cares for others. He is weak in his moral code . ... Professional gambler who is forced out of the town of Poker Flat as an undesirable because he wins so much money from the townspeople.
Who is Uncle Billy in Poker Flat?
The chief antagonist of the story , Uncle Billy is a drunk and a suspected thief (he is believed to steal gold while other people are panning for it) who is exiled from Poker Flat along with Oakhurst, the Duchess, and Mother Shipton.
Why do the outcasts leave Poker Flat?
The outcasts are thrown out of the town of Poker Flat because they are the undesirables of the town . Duchess, despite what her name implies, is not high class royalty in any way. She is the town prostitute; therefore, she is deemed a seedy character that should be expelled from the town.
Who is the most admirable character in The Outcasts of Poker Flat?
While all of the characters of Bret Harte's “Outcasts of Poker Flat” easily engage the reader's sympathy, with the exception of the treacherous Uncle Billy, it's difficult not to feel that the heroic self-sacrifice of Mother Shipton makes her the most admirable of the group.
Who were the outcasts escorted out of town?
In 1850, he and three others are banished from the town. The others are Uncle Billy, a thief, and the Duchess and Mother Shipton , two prostitutes. The group later meets two newlyweds, who help them take shelter in a storm.
Why does Mr Oakhurst try to push the group to continue toward Sandy Bar?
Mr. Oakhurst knows that if the group cannot get to Sandy Bar in a timely manner, they are ill-equipped to survive in the wilderness .
What is the main message of the Outcasts of Poker Flat?
Bret Harte finalizes the confirmation his main message, which is that humanity runs deeper than external appearances and can't be judged by lip-service and propriety , when Oakhurst selflessly offers himself as a sacrifice in the hope that the women might live.
What happens to Mr Oakhurst at the end of the story?
Oakhurst take in the last part of the story? Piney and Duchess frozen to death . Mr. Oakhurst shot himself.
What is ironic about the title The Outcasts of Poker Flat?
Therefore the central irony that underlies “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” is that the outcast's behavior and kindness toward each other proves that they have qualities of mind and heart that society honors–even if their professions are on the less respectable side–while the morally guiding secret committee of Poker ...
How do Mr Oakhurst and Tom Simson the innocent know each other?
Oakhurst and Tom met across a gambling table . Mr. Oakhurst won $40 from Tom, which was the entire amount the young man owned.
What does it mean to flat in poker?
What is Flat in Poker? Flat is simply another word for ‘call' in poker. Flat and call can be used interchangeably and also together i.e. we decided to flat call. Flatting or calling is the action of precisely matching the bet on the current betting round as opposed to raising or folding.
