Jump to content

The Outcasts of Poker Flat: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
 
(40 intermediate revisions by 26 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Short story by Bret Harte}}
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=April 2012}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2012}}
{{Tone|date=November 2014}}
}}
[[File:Outcasts of Poker Flat.jpg|thumb|"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" from ''The Overland Monthly'', January 1869]]
[[File:Outcasts of Poker Flat.jpg|thumb|"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" from ''The Overland Monthly'', January 1869]]
"'''The Outcasts of Poker Flat'''" (1869) is a [[short story]] written by renowned author of the American West [[Bret Harte]]. An example of [[literary naturalism|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.
"'''The Outcasts of Poker Flat'''" (1869) is a [[short story]] written by author of the American West [[Bret Harte]].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://americanliterature.com/author/bret-harte/short-story/the-outcasts-of-poker-flat |title=The Outcasts of Poker Flat |language=en}}</ref> An example of [[literary naturalism|naturalism]] and local color of [[California]] during the first half of the nineteenth century, the story 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==
==Plot==
The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of [[La Porte, California|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 decline. 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,wow 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.
The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of [[La Porte, California|La Porte]]. Following the loss of several thousand dollars and two horses, and the death of a notable resident, the town has formed a secret committee to rid itself of any "improper" people, hanging two and banishing others. On November 23, 1850, four such individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warned not to return on pain of death. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst, who has won large amounts from those on the secret committee. On his way out of town, he is joined by two women, the Duchess and Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. These four set out for the Sandy Bar mining camp, a [[day's journey]] away over a mountain range. At noon, over Oakhurst's protests, the group stops for a rest.


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.
While on their rest, the group is met by a pair of runaway lovers on their way to Poker Flat to get married, Tom Simson (known also as "The Innocent") and 15-year-old Piney Woods. Simson has met Oakhurst before and has great admiration for him, as Oakhurst won a great deal of money from Simson. Oakhurst had returned the money and urged Simson to quit gambling, as he was a terrible player. Nonetheless, Simson 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 are unaware of the group's status as exiles, and Simson assumes that the Duchess is Oakhurst's wife, to the amusement of Uncle Billy.


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 [[altruism|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.
A decision is made for everyone to stay the night together, and the group takes shelter in a half-built cabin Simson has discovered. In the middle of the night, Oakhurst wakes up and sees a heavy snowstorm raging. Looking around, he realizes that Uncle Billy has fled with the group's horses and mules. 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 [[altruism|altruistically]] starved herself in order to give her rations to Piney. Oakhurst fashions some snowshoes for Simson to use in traveling to Poker Flat for help, telling the others he will accompany the young man part of the way. The "law of Poker Flat" finally arrives at the cabin, only to find the Duchess and Piney frozen to death and embracing in a peaceful repose. They look so peaceful and innocent that the onlookers cannot tell which of them had been exiled for her immoral behavior.


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:
Oakhurst commits suicide under a tree by shooting himself through the heart with his [[derringer]]. A playing card, the two of clubs, is found pinned to the trunk with a note written on it:
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
BENEATH THIS TREE
BENEATH THIS TREE
Line 25: Line 23:
ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850.
ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850.
</blockquote>
</blockquote>

==Characters==
* 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==
==Film, TV or theatrical adaptations==
Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919 film)|1919]] with [[Harry Carey (actor)|Harry Carey]], in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937 film)|1937]] with [[Preston Foster]], and in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1952 film)|1952]] with [[Dale Robertson]]. The [[spaghetti western]] ''[[Four of the Apocalypse]]'' is based on this story and another of Harte's stories, "[[The Luck of Roaring Camp]]".
Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919 film)|1919]] with [[Harry Carey (actor)|Harry Carey]], in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937 film)|1937]] with [[Preston Foster]], and in [[The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1952 film)|1952]] with [[Dale Robertson]]. The [[Spaghetti Western]] ''[[Four 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 (composer)|Samuel Adler]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dram.nyu.edu/dram/note.cgi?id=8801 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2006-08-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518194308/http://dram.nyu.edu/dram/note.cgi?id=8801 |archivedate=2006-05-18 |df= }}</ref> [[Jaromir Weinberger]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=1936|title=Jaromir Weinberger - Outcasts of Poker Flat - Opera|work=boosey.com}}</ref> Stanworth Beckler,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pikappalambda.capital.edu/organization.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2006-08-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718134915/http://pikappalambda.capital.edu/organization.html |archivedate=2006-07-18 |df= }}</ref> and Andrew Earle Simpson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2012/07/09/coming-to-the-capital-fringe-festival-the-outcasts-of-poker-flat-by-andrew-earle-simpson/|title=Coming to The Capital Fringe Festival: "The Outcasts of Poker Flat' by Andrew Earle Simpson - DCMetroTheaterArts|work=DCMetroTheaterArts}}</ref>
Operas based on ''The Outcasts of Poker Flats'' include those by [[Samuel Adler (composer)|Samuel Adler]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dram.nyu.edu/dram/note.cgi?id=8801 |title=The Database of Recorded American Music |accessdate=2006-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518194308/http://dram.nyu.edu/dram/note.cgi?id=8801 |archivedate=2006-05-18 }}</ref> [[Jaromir Weinberger]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boosey.com/pages/opera/moreDetails.asp?musicID=1936|title=Jaromir Weinberger – Outcasts of Poker Flat – Opera|work=boosey.com}}</ref> Stanworth Beckler,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pikappalambda.capital.edu/organization.html |title=Organization |accessdate=2006-08-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718134915/http://pikappalambda.capital.edu/organization.html |archivedate=2006-07-18 }}</ref> and Andrew Earle Simpson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dcmetrotheaterarts.com/2012/07/09/coming-to-the-capital-fringe-festival-the-outcasts-of-poker-flat-by-andrew-earle-simpson/|title=Coming to The Capital Fringe Festival: 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat'|author=Andrew Earle Simpson |work=DCMetroTheaterArts|date=9 July 2012 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 39: Line 33:


==External links==
==External links==
{{wikisource|The Outcasts of Poker Flat}}
{{Wikisource|The Outcasts of Poker Flat}}
*{{librivox book|title=The Outcasts of Poker Flat|author=Bret Harte}}
*{{librivox book|title=The Outcasts of Poker Flat|author=Bret Harte}}
*''[https://www.owleyes.org/text/outcasts-poker-flat The Outcasts of Poker Flat]'' - Annotated text + analyses aligned to Common Core Standards
*''[https://www.owleyes.org/text/outcasts-poker-flat The Outcasts of Poker Flat]'' – Annotated text + analyses aligned to Common Core Standards
* [https://www.thefreshreads.com/the-outcasts-of-poker-flat/ The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte]


{{Bret Harte}}
{{Bret Harte}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Outcasts of Poker Flat, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Outcasts of Poker Flat, The}}

Latest revision as of 02:53, 17 May 2024

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" from The Overland Monthly, January 1869

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte.[1] An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, the story 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[edit]

The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Following the loss of several thousand dollars and two horses, and the death of a notable resident, the town has formed a secret committee to rid itself of any "improper" people, hanging two and banishing others. On November 23, 1850, four such individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warned not to return on pain of death. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst, who has won large amounts from those on the secret committee. On his way out of town, he is joined by two women, the Duchess and Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. These four set out for the Sandy Bar mining camp, a day's journey away over a mountain range. At noon, over Oakhurst's protests, the group stops for a rest.

While on their rest, the group is met by a pair of runaway lovers on their way to Poker Flat to get married, Tom Simson (known also as "The Innocent") and 15-year-old Piney Woods. Simson has met Oakhurst before and has great admiration for him, as Oakhurst won a great deal of money from Simson. Oakhurst had returned the money and urged Simson to quit gambling, as he was a terrible player. Nonetheless, Simson 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 are unaware of the group's status as exiles, and Simson assumes that the Duchess is Oakhurst's wife, to the amusement of Uncle Billy.

A decision is made for everyone to stay the night together, and the group takes shelter in a half-built cabin Simson has discovered. In the middle of the night, Oakhurst wakes up and sees a heavy snowstorm raging. Looking around, he realizes that Uncle Billy has fled with the group's horses and mules. 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 in order to give her rations to Piney. Oakhurst fashions some snowshoes for Simson to use in traveling to Poker Flat for help, telling the others he will accompany the young man part of the way. The "law of Poker Flat" finally arrives at the cabin, only to find the Duchess and Piney frozen to death and embracing in a peaceful repose. They look so peaceful and innocent that the onlookers cannot tell which of them had been exiled for her immoral behavior.

Oakhurst commits suicide under a tree by shooting himself through the heart with his derringer. A playing card, the two of clubs, is found pinned to the trunk with a note written on it:

BENEATH THIS TREE LIES 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.

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 Western Four 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,[2] Jaromir Weinberger,[3] Stanworth Beckler,[4] and Andrew Earle Simpson.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The Outcasts of Poker Flat.
  2. ^ "The Database of Recorded American Music". Archived from the original on 2006-05-18. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
  3. ^ "Jaromir Weinberger – Outcasts of Poker Flat – Opera". boosey.com.
  4. ^ "Organization". Archived from the original on 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
  5. ^ Andrew Earle Simpson (9 July 2012). "Coming to The Capital Fringe Festival: 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat'". DCMetroTheaterArts.

External links[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Outcasts_of_Poker_Flat&oldid=1224237645"