W4: Close Reading of “The Outcasts of Poker Flats”
Harte is able to quickly establish in his story if we should feel a certain way to our character, or more importantly the scenery. He uses his language to teach us about the area simply, but effectively without uneccessary filler. The use of descriptors makes us readers understand the area without much difficulty and gets one interested in why this area has become like so.
Since Harte is from Northern California, and mentions sagebrush, it’s pretty safe to say along with mentions in the Sierra that he is talking about That region in this, most likely the modern Tahoe even possibly Reno. This region might even be as close to the Central Valley as Auburn or Gold Run. Regardless, he sets up this story with having the region painted out to us. The par mentioning that the town of Poker Flats has lost its income and people of important almost gives it the feel of a ghost town to be. It makes it feel a little eerie. However, it’s also more saddening, like a successful mining village is falling apart past its prime.
The other part in the passage that changes the tune of the set up of Poker Flats is that this stuff happening to them was just not unexplainable. The people have started a rebellion of sorts against the lawlessness, but only the few possibly more goody two shoes types. It shows that this town is kind of fighting against itself, and probably is not a safe place to stay unless you were probably one with their God. It starts to make you feel unwelcome in the town, and even for our character, Mr. Oakhurst, you know that he needs to get out of town.
Harte, Bret. “The Outcasts of Poker Flats.” The Literature of California, University of California, 2000. Pg. 216-225.
Wow! You are pretty familiar with North Cali! I have lives here my whole life, and I still don’t know where is what. I like how you use a lot of the areas of California to explain your thoughts about Hart.
ReplyDeleteI also did not think of that concept, “town is fighting against itself”, because you are SO right! It is almost rediculous that this group was banished because frankly, there was nothing else to do but gamble during that time.
I really like the fact that you pinpointed the region Harte was referring to. Like Dana mentioned, you seem very familiar with the area. I think that was a great addition to your close reading. At first I didn't know what "passage" you were talking about. Perhaps BOLD case it or even better, paste it in the beginning before your analysis. What if you connected your chosen passage to the rest of the story? Maybe you could discuss the effects of "rid[ding] the town of all improper persons." or perhaps elaborate what "improper" means. After all, I don't thing Oakhurst was a bad person. He was just a winner against sore losers. He was in the wrong town at the wrong time and he believed his "luck" failed him. Perhaps as well, you could talk about the actions of the people. You could elaborate their morals and what they deem appropriate or important. The people of that time killed or sent people away over unfortunate events or how they behaved, even though society may have made them that way (ex. Dutchess and Mother Shipton were prostitutes). Overall, i like how you focused on location but would have liked to see you go deeper and analyze the actions of the committee and what they were really trying to rid of.
ReplyDeleteI like the way you approached this. I wouldn't have thought to include a deeper explanation of where the story is set. It really gave me a good visual of the setting and set a tone for the rest of the post. I totally know what you mean about the eerie ghost town feel. I feel like most of the post was just about the setting of the story. If that's what you were going for then good job girl! However, I would be more interested to hear about your opinion on the corruption and lawlessness of of poker flat. I noticed you said "(the town) probably is not a safe place to stay unless you were probably one with their God". Is that meaning you were only safe if you were religious and out the way unlike John Oakhurst? What if John Oakhurst was religious? Would he be safe from the committees wrath? great post!
ReplyDeleteI just loved this piece of writing, "It makes it feel a little eerie...like a successful mining village is falling apart past its prime." That is how I felt as well, but I couldn't have written it better! I really liked how you described that setting. I also liked how you connected where the exact area of the town was as well, I thought that was very insightful.
ReplyDelete