Alarming Oaths

Journal No. 3
English 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author I Chose: Bret Harte

From the short story "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

I. "The philosophic Oakhurst alone remained silent. He listened calmly to...the alarming oaths that seemed to be bumped out of Uncle Billy as he rode forward."

II. In the middle of a procession of mules, horses, and refugees, Mr. Oakhurst is quietly, almost involuntarily, observing the actions of his fellow outcasts. He hears Mother Shipton ranting and raving about having been thrown out of town. He then hears the Duchess dramatically state over and over again that she will die in the road. Finally, he hears Uncle Billy swearing under each strained breath as he "bumps" forward.

III. Mr. Harte has just made this story more and more hilarious. The image of Uncle Billy (who, by the way, has about three teeth left in his head and hasn't bathed in weeks!) "bumping" along on his horse and trying to swear at the same time practically has me rolling. Uncle Billy is nothing pretty to look at, or smell for that matter. The language that Harte uses in this quote gives the reader much detail, beyond the direct meaning of the words. I can see him sweating profusely, dirt smudged all over his sunken cheeks, and a grimace against the sun that looks as though it's about to produce tears. The man is miserable. He was unhappy before he got kicked out of Poker Flat and now he's just right down pissed! A couple of sentences later, Harte explains that Uncle Billy "included the party in one sweeping anathema." Dang rascals! They're all just a bunch of no-gooders!

Easily Established Standards of Evil

Journal No. 2
English 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author I Chose: Bret Harte

From the short story "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

I. "[I]t was only in such easily established standards of evil that Poker Flat ventured to sit in judgment."

II. This quote is in reference to a group of "misfits" and "outcasts" whom the people of Poker Flat have chosen to throw out. The outcasts have acted out immoral behavior and therefore require judgment from the "upstanding" citizens of the town. The quote, however, indicates that the people sitting in judgment are nothing more than outcasts themselves. The "judges" have established themselves as immoral people long before the day that they chose to throw this poor, harmless group of people out.

III. This is another funny quote from the story. This one is only the third paragraph into the story, so they just keep coming. I think that Harte's usage of irony is very generous. And this works for his story. Harte continues to paint a picture of a town that is wearing white on its wedding day when it should be wearing red. With fishnet stockings and garters and stiletto heels. And a peek-a-boo leather bustier. Well, I'm sure that you get what I'm trying to say. Poker Flat wants to assume an image that it can not. Poker Flat tries to play the good guy, but all of the residents seem to be nothing more than gamblers, murderers, and other types of villains. The irony is pretty grand here.

Sabbath Lull

Journal No. 1
English 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
Author I Chose: Bret Harte

From the short story "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

I. "There was a Sabbath lull in the air, which, in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences, looked ominous."

II. Bret Harte starts his story with a description of a gambler entering the streets of a "morally changed" town. He is looking around and noticing that people have stopped talking once he has approached. The quote above is describing the feeling about the town as he walks down the street.

III. I absolutely LOVE this quote. This quote gave me a real giggle when I first read the story (as you know, it is in the first paragraph). This is just so funny to me. The way that Harte uses such a "moral" connotation for his seedy character's observation as he leaves a poker game is brilliant. Harte insists that the story be taken lightly just by using such a teasing tone. He assumes that the readers of this c.1869 story are indeed very moral and do attend church "religiously" (pun intended, of course). His readers almost poke fun back at him by not realizing that Harte is indeed writing this story with tongue solidly lodged in cheek for the duration. I think that Harte may have had higher aspirations for his readers than what they were able to deliver.

This wonderful quote just begins to paint a picture of a town that is indeed lacking moral value. The town, after all, did just hand over its winnings to Mr. John Oakhurst. When I read this, I picture a black-clad man, wearing chaps and spurs, just coming out the front door of a building with a sign over the top: Tom's Saloon. As Mr. Oakhurst comes out the front door, he stops and lights a hand-rolled cigarette. He is about to shake out his match when under the brim of his hat, he catches sight of several clusters of usually mischievious men, all looking his way and whispering. Mr. Oakhurst continues to shake out the match, his pause only discernable if one was looking for it. As he walks down the street, he catches glimpses of whispering mouths and shadows of movement as people decide whether to scatter or just to cease all conversation. This is when Mr. Oakhurst observes, "There was a Sabbath lull in the air, which, in a settlement unused to Sabbath influences, looked ominous."