The Outcasts of Poker Flat

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"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story by Bret Harte. This story is an example of local color and regionalism during the Gilded Generation. Though born in Albany, New York, Harte was a passionate writer of the west. It was first publishing in January 1869 with the magazine Overland Monthly.

[edit] Plot summary

The story takes place in a California community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. In November 1850, four "immoral" characters are exiled as part of the "cleansing" of bad elements by the townspeople: professional gambler John Oakhurst, two women, "The Duchess" (a prostitute) and "Mother Shipton" (a brothel owner), and Uncle Billy, a drunkard and suspected robber. They set out for a less-respectable camp a hard day's journey away over a mountain range, but despite Oakhurst's protests, the rest of the party decides to stop for a rest at noon, only halfway to their goal.

They meet runaway lovers on their way to Poker Flat to get married, fifteen-year-old Piney Woods and Tom Simson, or the Innocent, a younger man who admires Oakhurst. Tom leads them to a half-built cabin he discovered. They spend the night there. However, Oakhurst awakens to find a heavy snow storm raging and that Uncle Billy has stolen their mules. The party wait out the storm with few provisions.

After a week, Mother Shipton dies, having secretly saved her share of the food for Piney. Oakhurst advises Simpson that he will have to go for help. The gambler tells the others he will accompany the lad part of the way.

The "law of Poker Flat" arrives at the cabin, only to find the Duchess and Piney dead, embracing in a peaceful repose. They both seemed so peaceful and innocent that one could not tell which was the virgin and which the lady of the evening. Oakhurst is found dead beneath a tree, with a pistol at his side and a bullet in his heart, having committed suicide. Simson's fate is not stated.

[edit] Adaptations

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1919 film). (Discuss)

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1937 film). (Discuss)

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article entitled The Outcasts of Poker Flat (1952 film). (Discuss)

It has been filmed at least four times: one in 1937 with Preston Foster and another 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 Flat include those by Samuel Adler[1] and Stanford Beckler.[2]