“The Outcasts of Poker Flat”:
A Hero or a Villain? Throughout the short story of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat”, there is signs of heroism and even generosity in many of societies outcasts. For most of the characters in the short story, despite being banished, show acts of selflessness and have noble qualities as death quietly surrounds them. The main character, John Oakhurst, has the nature to do what is right despite being portrayed as a villain. “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” does in fact have some hypocrisy to it, because John Oakhurst is being sentenced to death for gambling even though those on the secret committee have sat down at the poker table with him, thus making them gamblers as well. Only after they lose money to John do they decide that it is unlawful to gamble in Poker Flat. Mr. Jim Wheeler even goes as far as suggesting that they hang John Oakhurst and take their money back from him. “A few of the committee had urged hanging him as a possible example, and a sure method of reimbursing themselves from his pockets of the sums he had won from them. “It’s again justice,” said Jim Wheeler, “to let this yer young man from Roaring Camp—an entire stranger—carry away our money.”(Bret Harte)…show more content… After running into Tom Simson and Piney Woods, they are offered a chance to travel along with them, but John does not want to ride with them and points out that they have no provisions and no place to stay. “He then endeavored to dissuade Tom Simson from delaying further, but in vain. He even pointed out the fact that there was no provision, nor means of making a camp. But, unluckily, the Innocent met this objection by assuring the party that he was provided with an extra mule loaded with provisions, and by the discovery of a rude attempt at a log-house near the
