Regionalism, Realism, and Naturalism in the "Outcasts of Poker Flat-.
There are several different aspects of literature. Authors often use naturalism to illustrate a situation in which a single character or group of characters are subject to the laws of nature that are beyond their control including God, nature, and people. Regionalism stresses the specific setting of the story to the reader. Realism is a style of writing to portray life as is. In the short story, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat,"" realism, regionalism, and naturalism are apparent.
Poker Flat distinctly demonstrates several scenarios in which naturalism occurs. The townspeople detest the outcasts and wish for them to depart from town. .
"It's agin justice,"" said Jim Wheeler, "to let this yer young man from Roaring Camp "an entire stranger " carry away our money."" (Harte 395).
Mr. Oakhurst was gambler who took many of the townsmen's money. Jim Wheeler starts to explain what the town must do to achieve justice from Mr. Oakhurst and the other outcasts. The townsmen are against Mr. Oakhurst and he is helpless to their decision of his sentence. Not only are strangers against Mr. Oakhurst and the other outcasts, but even people the outcasts trust, turn on them.
A member of the coalition of outcasts betrays his own kind. Uncle Billy steals the groups' means of survival. "He ran to the spot where the mules were tethered "they were no longer there- (Harte 397). Uncle Billy stole their provisions and their only method of transportation. They are not able to travel by foot because the weather is against them.
Nature holds the largest part of betrayal in the story. The snow eventually stops .
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the group in their tracks.
He looked over the valley and summed up the present.
and future in two words, "Snowed in!- (Harte 397).
The treacherous weather is against them more so than anything or anyone because the weather kills them all.
