“Outcasts Of Poker Flat”

When reading “Outcasts Of Poker Flat”, I was extremely intrigued by Bret Harte’s use of characterization. From the first paragraph to the last paragraph characterization is to show how there life style leads to there fate.

John Oakhurst has a gambler life style living life as a game, because he was too “much of a gambler not to accept Fate. With him life was at best an uncertain game, and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer” (537). Later in the story its revealed that whenever John was ahead he would cast in his checks and get out while he was ahead. This leads to his fate of him committing suicide, during a time of bad luck, because before it could be worse he cashed in his life. Another situation where a characters life style leads to there fate is Uncle Billy, who was a suspected sluice robber (536). This corrupt life style leads to him getting exiled from Poker Flat and latter getting stranded in the snow all because of his want for gold and robbing. Finally, Tom Simson and Piney life style of basing all choices of emotion causes them to run away, so they can be together. This decision to run away for love leads to them also being stranded in the snow.

Using the characterization of John Quaker, Uncle Billy, Tom Simson and Piney as examples, the fate of a character can be revealed based on there choice of life style.