The Outcasts of Poker Flat

“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” takes place in California between November 23 and December 7, 1850.  During this time period in history there was an influx of people in the towns seeking fortunes by mining for gold.  The town of Poker Flat had been a popular place for gambling.  After losing several thousand dollars, two horses, and a worthy citizen, a secret committee was established by the townspeople.  This committee saw to the hanging of two people and the banishment of others including; Oakhurst, The Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy.  The Duchess and Mother Shipton are prostitutes and Uncle Billy is a drunken thief.  Oakhurst, a philosophic level headed man, is forced out of town because he won a substantial amount of money from the townspeople.  Some members of the secret committee even wanted to have Oakhurst hung, than they could raid his pockets and take back their money.  The idea of hanging Oakhurst is very hypocritical.  The townspeople became gamblers themselves when they sat down at the poker table to play with Oakhurst.  Consequently, he has won all their money and now they wish to hang him or run him out of town.

Hypocrisy is a main theme throughout the text.  The title “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” indicates that the town is well-known for gambling.  The gambling townspeople create “a secret committee [who] had determined to rid the town of all improper persons.”  The Duchess, Mother Shipton, Uncle Billy, and Oakhurst were all seen has “improper” and were ejected.  Ironically, Oakhurst, the gambler was banished by other gamblers from a town known for gambling.  At the end of the story The Duchess breaks “the silence of many hours: “Piney, can you pray?” “No, dear,” said Piney, simply.”  Piney, the apparent virgin, is unable to pray as is the prostitute, The Duchess.  “The younger and purer pillowing the head of her soiled sister upon her virgin breast, they fell asleep.”  The pure virgin and the soiled spirit die linked arm and arm.  “You could scarcely have told from the equal peace that dwelt upon them, which was she that had sinned.”  Society had distinct concepts of who was good and bad but in the end one could not tell them apart.  The secret committee had apparently banished the “improper persons” but in the end the true personalities of the outcasts were revealed.  

The Duchess, Mother Shipton, Uncle Billy, and Oakhurst begin to make their way out of Poker Flat to Sandy Beach.  The trip is long and treacherous and about half way to Sandy Beach The Duchess declares she can go no farther.  Although Oakhurst wants to continue, “The thought of deserting his weaker and more pitiable companions never perhaps occurred to him.”  As the groups settles, except for Oakhurst, the others shortly become under the influence of alcohol.  From their initial actions, The Duchess and Mother Shipton appear to be foul-mouthed, lazy, and prone to drunkenness.  However, as the story progresses, it is evident that there is goodness and heroism within them.  For example, when Piney Woods arrives at the camp, both women act as surrogate mothers to the young girl.  Mother Shipton starves herself to death in order to save a week’s rations of food for Piney and Tom. Throughout the story, Oakhurst always had “a usual clam,” his true heart and goodness is illustrated when he gives his snowshoes to Tom, allowing him to return to civilization.  The Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Oakhurst were seen as outsiders in society.  They went against cultural norms in Poker Flat.  However, once isolated from society, their genuine personalities were revealed.  All three of them had a kind heart and treated the young couple with the upmost respect.  Cultural norms had led the townspeople to believe that The Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Oakhurst were detrimental to society thus getting banished.  However, if the secret committee would have taken the time to get to know them individually, they would have not lost three great members of their society.

When Tommy joins Oakhurst and the others he immediately puts all his possessions at the disposal of Oakhurst.  It is clearly evident that Tommy admires Oakhurst as something of a God.  Oakhurst earned Tommy’s trust when he had previously won money from Tommy during a gambling match.  After Oakhurst won the money he said “Tommy, you’re a good little man, but you can’t gamble worth a cent. Don’t try it over again.”  He then handed Tommy his money back and from this point forward, Tommy was a devoted slave to Oakhurst.  As a result, Tommy was eager to share his food rations and camp with the outcasts.  He says “We’ll have a good camp for a week, and then the snow’ll melt, and we’ll all go back together.”  In any culture once one earns respect from his fellow companions, this respect will be evident throughout their relationship.  Trust and respect are two qualities that people value in today’s society.  Throughout history, culture has taught that respect for your neighbor is right and just.  Alike Tommy’s and Oakhurst’s relationship, relationships today are built upon a solid foundation of trust and respect.  As Oakhurst discovers with the town’s people it only takes a few frowned upon actions to destroy a relationship.  Although Poker Flat is known for gambling, once Oakhurst becomes successful at their own game they wanted him gone from their town. 

Throughout the story it is also evident that religion is a large part of Poker Flat’s culture.  Although the outsiders face a streak of bad luck they always go back to their roots singing, “I’m proud to line in the service of the Lord, And I’m bound to die in His army.”  The outsiders realize that death is imminent but never lose their faith in their religion.  I believe this is a large factor for Oakhurst.  When he takes his own life at the end of the story many people might say he was cowardly.  However, his actions throughout the story were exemplary and he was not afraid to die.  Oakhurst put his trust in the Lord and when he committed suicide he was prepared “to die in His army.”  If religion had not been a large part of his culture and life, the event in the story could have resulted very differently.  It is also apparent that religion was a large part of The Duchess and Mother Shipton’s life.  By treating the young couple with respect and giving them food, they were carrying out God’s goal for Earth. 

In “The Village” the elders chose isolation as their way of life.  However, in the “Outsiders of Poker Flat” they were forced to leave.  Poker Flat rejects them from society and they shortly find themselves in seclusion.  In “The Village,” the myth plays the controlling role of keeping the villagers in isolation.  In the “Outsiders of Poker Flat” the outsiders become isolated due to the continuous heavy snowfall.  The clouds momentarily open up offering hope, but Mother Nature quickly dashes any optimism but starting to snow again.  Lucius and Oakhurst share many characteristics.  At the end of the story when Oakhurst chooses suicide it reveals he “was at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat.”  Alike Lucius, Oakhurst was very level headed and brave leading the outsiders throughout the story.  Lucius began the journey to the towns, carving the way for Ivy to finish his journey.  In each of these texts, the characters cultures have had an impacting role on their decisions and way of life.  It is interesting to see the connections between their actions and cultures.    

The Village

The Village Blog

“The Village” is an excellent example how a myth can become a controlling force over a whole village.  Violent losses of family members resulted in the elders voluntarily leaving the towns to start a new isolated community.  By isolating themselves from the towns, the elders believe they could prevent the feeling of suffering of loss.  For example, a woman being raped and killed or a man corrupted by greed could have been prevented if not in the towns.  The elders leave the towns in hope for something good.  The main difference between the village and the “real world” is in the village the people could live in a simpler time without the corruption of modern day and without money at all.  In the village, the elders could create life the way they believe it was to be lived.  The isolated village also offers a closer connection between its inhabitants compared to a large city where people are more spread out.  In order for their village to remain isolated, the elders create a myth that instills a fear of the woods surrounding the village.  According to the myth, “those who we do not speak of” live in the Covington Woods.  There is also a pact between the village people and the creatures of the woods.  The pact states that if the village people do not enter the woods then the creatures will not attack.  When dead carcasses begin appearing all over the village people start to get suspicious blaming Lucius for going into the woods to seek medical supplies.  I believe the elder’s reasons for creating the myth are justifiable; however, the fear of the myth should not keep the village completely isolated.  Although the village is self sufficient, it lacks the medicines that could have saved August Nicholson’s son, Daniel, or cure Noah’s mental state.

After Daniel Nicholson’s funeral, August says to Lucius “you may run from sorrow, as we have, but sorrow will find you. It can smell you."  This is a significant statement in the movie that connects the past and the present.  The elders ran from the sorrow in the towns but it has still found them in their isolated village.  The death of Augusts’ son has brought sorrow to his life in the isolated village.  It is significant that August says this quote to Lucius because it gives Lucius the idea of going to the towns to get medicines.  If Lucius did not enter the woods, the village would have remained the same as previous years. 

The use of color throughout the movie is very symbolic.  Since birth the villagers have been taught that yellow is the safe color and it will protect against the creatures in the woods.  For example, when Ivy is traveling through the woods and her yellow robe becomes muddy, she fears the monsters.  Even though she knows the monsters are not real, she has been taught that the yellow color provides a sense of security.  Similarly, the villagers have been drilled to associate the color red with the creatures in the woods.  Red, known as the “bad color,” instills fear in the villagers when spotted.  For example, a beautiful red flower is seen as a connection to “those who we do not speak of” and is immediately covered.  The creatures throughout the movie are also always wearing red.  It makes sense that red was chosen as the “bad color” as it represents the devil but it is ironic that yellow was chosen as the “safe color.”  Yellow is often associated with weakness or cowardice, but in “The Village” the yellow color gives the people strength and security against the creatures.   

The elders created “the village” to protect their innocence and get away from the corruption and bloodshed of the “real world.”  This is highly ironic because in the village there is not just sunshine and rainbows but also violence.  For example, when the dead carcasses were scattered around the village it prompted the people to act out thinking the creatures did this out of madness.  Although the elders believe they have control over the violence that the people are exposed to, this is not the case when Lucius is stabbed by Noah.  The villager’s innocence might be protected from the violence in the “real world,” but they still are exposed to bloodshed within the village.   

Fear of the myth is instilled into the villagers from birth.  As a result, they do not have a choice in the way they are living.  The fear within them is so great, that they are afraid to explore beyond their set boundaries.  The villager’s have been taught that there is only one way of life and no one should seek new ways of living.  In “The Village” the members were frightened into self-protection and self-preservation; however, this is not right.  I believe the villagers should not be frightened but have a free mind to do as they please.  Ivy goes into the woods to seek medicine in the towns for Lucius.  When she leaves Mr. Walker says to the elders “yes I have risked and I hope I am always able to risk everything for the just and right cause.” The cause for letting Ivy venture into the woods is definitely just and right.  Lucius was stabbed by Noah out of jealously.  He was an innocent victim in this awful crime.  It is only right to let Ivy go to the towns and get medicine in an attempt to save Lucius.  There would be a price to preserving such a powerful myth.  If Mr. Walker wanted to preserve the myth he would not have let Ivy go into the town to get medicine.  Without the medicine the death of Lucius, one of their own villagers, seems very probable.   

There are some parallels between the functioning myth and its organizing principles.  The myth allowed the village to attempt the creation of a utopian society.  The Amish today have created a similar separation from the “real world.”  However they differ from the villagers in they occasionally trade with others.  “The Village” wanted to appear that they had a utopia but it is impossible to live in isolation.  There are also functioning myths in today’s society that manipulate people’s actions, behaviors, and choices.  For example our world today is very materialistic.  People have been programmed that if one wears designer clothes then they must be superior.  When two people go in for a job interview, their appearance should not be a big contributing factor to whom gets the job.  However, it is almost guaranteed that the person who “looks” the part is more likely to receive the job because we have been programmed to value and desire good outer appearance.  “The Village” provides great insights to how functioning myths have control over people even in today’s society. 

"The Story of an Hour" & "The Yellow Wallpaper"

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin provide interesting insights to life in the 19^th century.  The main themes in both texts revolve around gender roles, power, control, oppression, love, and independence.  Both stories also contain symbolism, metaphors, and irony which add to the overall themes of the texts.   

Main themes in both texts revolve around gender roles in society, power, control, and oppression.  Male domination ruled daily life during this time period in history.  Females were simply seen as house wives and their roles included bearing and raising children, housekeeping, and cooking.  In both stories, the women were under the oppression of their husbands.  In “The Story of an Hour” Mrs. Mallard was dominated by her husband. This becomes evident after Mrs. Mallard receives the news of her husband’s death.  She initially grieves his death but then “She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!"  Mrs. Mallard feels a sense of freedom and relief.  She is now an independent woman.  From this point forward, she will only know joy and happiness.  “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence.”  Although she will grieve her husband’s death, inside she feels joy.  It was “only yesterday she wished that life would be short, now she wishes that life will be long.”  Mrs. Mallard is eager to return to her vivacious spirit that she once knew.  However, she really did love her husband. Mrs. Mallard’s true love for her husband is revealed by the statement “She knew that she would weep again, the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead.”  She clearly loved her husband; however, she was suffocated by his attempts to put her on a golden pedestal.     

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” John’s domination is evident from the beginning.  To carry out the narrator’s treatment, she was not allowed to read, write, or see her newborn baby.  Throughout the story, John constantly patronizes his wife by calling her “a blessed little goose.”  He continues to show his dominance throughout by vetoing her smallest wishes such as her fancy to change bedrooms.  Being a physician of high standing, John believes he knows the best remedy for his wife.  He has instilled in her head that his ideas are the only ones that matter.  The narrator “personally…disagree[s] with their ideas,” but the powerful and authoritative voices of John and her family urge her to remain passive.  She might disagree with her treatment but has no power to change the situation.  She is unable to stand up for herself without seeming unreasonable or disrespectful.  As a result, the only place she can retain some control is in the power of her mind.  John seemingly has control over her physically but also of her mind.  When the narrator says “I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can do it to think about my condition.”  It is interesting that the narrator interrupts her own thought process and immediately recalls John’s instructions.  This shows how John has internalized his authority within his wife to the point that she hears his voice within her head.  The narrator was not content with being the typical housewife.  Her love of writing and creativity distinguishes her from the idealist picture of woman in the 19^th century.                 

“The Story of an Hour” contains a vast amount of symbolism.  The “Dull stare in her eyes” embodies her true feelings.  She is set in a routine and has become less independent; however, she is looking forward to her new freedom.  The room Mrs. Mallard goes to once she hears the news of her husband is a reflection of her newfound freedom.  The window which she looks through represents the beginning of new opportunities that await her in the years to come now that she is free from the control of her husband. “The delicious breath of rain [that] was in the air” is analogous to the cleansing nature that spring rain brings new life to a dead landscape.  New life has not broken ground yet but will soon sprout, as will Mrs. Mallard’s life.  A new dawn is upon her.  The patches of clouds amongst the blue sky represent the different aspects of her relationship with her husband.  The clouds are the rough spots when she felt a puppet of her husband.  The blue sky peaking through the clouds symbolizes the shift from oppression to the opportunity for renewal and freedom.  At the end of the story when Mrs. Mallard leaves her room, she sees her husband walk through the door, alive and well.  She lets out a piercing scream and then collapses.  “When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease – of a joy that kills.”  This is ironic.  Although she was excited about her newfound freedom, her weak heart could not withstand the happy shock of seeing her husband and ultimately resulted in her death. 

The yellow wallpaper is the most significant symbol in Gilman’s story.  The wallpaper is a symbol of female imprisonment within the domestic sphere.  Throughout the story the woman tries to figure out the sub-pattern within the wallpaper.  “The dim shapes get clearer every day” until she eventually unscrambles the pattern.  It resembles a woman “stopping down and creeping” behind the main pattern which looks like the bars of a cage.  The cage represents the woman’s structured life and her feeling of being trapped.  At night the narrator envisions the woman in the wall struggling, shaking the bars in an effort to escape.  The lady trapped in the wallpaper is the narrator, trapped under the control of her family.  As a result, the narrator begins to tear down the wallpaper.  When she finally tears down the wallpaper, she believes she had finally broken out of the ‘wallpaper’ which John has imprisoned her.             

Gilman also uses situational irony in the text.  Situational irony is when a character’s actions have the opposite effect that was intended.  For example, John’s course of treatment backfires.  His wife’s depression gets worse and she is eventually driven insane.  The narrator’s fate development also is ironic.  At the beginning, when she is mildly depressed, she is under the complete control of John.  The narrator only gains power and insight by losing her self-control and sanity at the end of the text.

In conclusion, both texts contain symbols that greatly contribute to the overall themes of the stories.  The main theme of females breaking out from male oppression is clearly evident.  Both stories provide an interesting outlook of life in the 19^th century.