Thursday, February 15, 2018

Week 4 Analysis: A Close Reading of The Outcasts of Poker Flat


What I enjoyed most about this passage is how it brings two of our characters, from two completely different walks of life, together through death, and how they pass on in a peaceful manner despite the harsh circumstances that they find themselves in.

One thing that I noticed in this passage is that maybe some things or people that we see as "evil" aren't so evil after all. The Duchess was exiled from Poker Flat because she was a prostitute, and the townsfolk saw her as evil. However as the story progresses we see that she is not a bad person at all as she cares for and protects the innocent, virgin Piney, whom she sees as a child. Upon discovering the ladies' death, even the law couldn't tell "which was she that had sinned."(Harte 224). I thought that this part was very powerful, because the people of Poker Flat labeled The Duchess as a sinner, yet upon finding the girls lying in each others arms, they both looked innocent and peaceful, and not like the demon that she had been portrayed as.

I really like was how Harte created a feeling of peace in the end of this adventure. Every character that died ended their life peacefully, including Mother Shipton, who died altruistically saving her food for Piney, and even Oakhurst, who took his own life on his own terms. When it comes to the passage that I chose to do this close reading on, the theme of peace in death persists. As Piney and The Duchess are discovered holding each other in death, Harte actually talks about "the equal peace that dwelt upon them."(224). Both of these young ladies had accepted death and died peacefully in each others arms. The scene, which is filled with fresh white snow, makes these deaths seem even more peaceful. Death is scary to most, but it can definitely be a peaceful resolution depending on the situation you find yourself in, and the state of mind in which you enter death.



"They slept all that day and the next, nor did they waken when voices and footsteps broke the silence

of the camp. And when pitying fingers brushed the snow from their wan faces, you could scarcely

have told from the equal peace that dwelt upon them, which was she that sinned. Even the law of

Poker Flat recognized this, and turned away, leaving them still locked in each other's arms." (Harte

224).

3 comments:

  1. I also liked the feeling of peacefulness that was created in the end of the story. I liked when they came looking in the cabin and found the two hugging and left them alone. It was a moment of peaceful innocence and a sweet sorrow. The ending when John Oakhurst was found dead was a little obscure. It wasn't clear to me how he died. I googled other opinions on it and some said he killed himself. I read it over at least 5 times and couldn't figure it out. How did you come to the conclusion he killed himself? I also noticed you said "Death is scary to most, but it can definitely be a peaceful resolution depending on the situation you find yourself in, and the state of mind in which you enter death." Does that mean that you think John Oakhurst's choice to kill himself was justified?

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  2. Hi Anthony

    It’s interesting that you found the peace at the end of this story, I agree with everything except for Oakhurst’s death. I felt he had the most selfish death of the group, that he didn’t go back to support the girls and help keep the camp running. You did a great job of explaining how the ending was so peaceful and I like that you pointed out that they couldn’t tell who she was that sinned when they were sleeping peacefully together.

    Best,
    Corine

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  3. Hi Anthony,
    I really like the fact that you considered the character development of the 3 exiles. I think it was a great analysis for you to contrast the characters from their pre-exile state to the time before their passing. I do have to say though that Oakhursts death may not be qualifying as peaceful like dying of natural causes, but i agree, it was peaceful on his terms as his inner turmoil was that of accepting fate, so for him to find his own peace he felt the need to hand in his own life on his own terms. Great analysis!

    Best,
    April

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