Outcasts Of Poker Flat Summary

In the story “Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte, John Oakhurst was one of the characters who had been outcast of the town. While he was considered improper, he should not have been outcast. He may have been a loner and a gambler, but he was a good person. John Oakhurst was wrongly made an outcast. He was a gentleman, he became the leader of the group of outcasts, and protective of the Tom Simson and Piney Woods.
John Oakhurst was a gentleman. He was a gentleman because he traded horses with The Duchess. He gave up his horse so that she could be more comfortable during their travels. He also said that he doesn’t drink alcohol. This is a result of his profession as a gambler requiring that he have a level head when gambling. These traits, along with many others, would classify John Oakhurst as a gentleman.

John Oakhurst was also protective.

When Tom Simson and John Oakhurst first met, they were gambling. Tom lost all of his money to Mr. Oakhurst and after the game had ended, John gave all the money Tom lost back to him and told him not to gamble anymore. Later, Tom and Piney later came across the group of outcasts. John kept Uncle Billy from telling the two newcomers why they were really out there. John Oakhurst wanted to protect the innocence of the two visitors from the truth that they were improper people and were forced to leave.
John ended up becoming the leader of the group. He was the most capable person in the group. His profession of being a gambler may have made him a loner, but he never once thought about leaving the group behind. He was also the most level headed person in the group, due to the fact that he doesn’t drink alcohol and knew that they weren’t prepared to stop at the camp. When he and Tom left to head back to the town, John left pile of wood stocked by the door for the two girls left behind. He was trying to help them survive for as long as possible in the cabin in the hopes that they would be rescued in

time.
There are many reasons John Oakhurst could be considered an outcast, such as he gambled and spent most if not all of his time alone. There are, still many more reason why John Oakhurst would not be considered at outcast. He was a gentleman who put other before himself and wanted to help and protect those that were in the group. He was a kind and respectable man that did not deserve to be outcasts because he was a gambler. Mr. John Oakhurst was not an outcast of Poker Flat.