The Outcasts Of Poker Flats Analysis

“Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden, but never extinguished.” Nelson Mandela. In the story “The Outcasts of Poker Flats”, by Brett Harte, there’s a group of people whose names are John Oakhurst, Mother Shipton, the Duchess, and Uncle Billy. To many they are disgraceful and horrible people who only care about themselves but I believe that there’s something called hidden goodness in everyone, no matter how horrible they may be. John Oakhurst is a gambler who many believe is malevolent, but is actually a kind man. John Oakhurst played a game of poker with a young man and won the entire pot. He then went out behind the door and told him "Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent. Don't try it over again."(Para.11) This shows that he is actually a good person because he could’ve kept all the money, but he decided not to because it was just wrong to take all of a young fellow’s money. When he was kicked out of Poker Flat it says that he was the last

Throughout the story when the young couple run into the outcasts and stay with them, the Duchess watches over Piney. This shows that she is a caring person because she didn’t have to take care of anybody. She could’ve easily just take care of herself and no one else, but she doesn’t because she knows that’d be selfish and that’s just not the kind of person she is. I know this because in the story it says that Piney would stay with the Duchess. In the story “The Outcasts of Poker Flats,” by Brett Harte, there’s a group of people whose names are John Oakhurst, Mother Shipton, the Duchess, and Uncle Billy. To many they are disgraceful and horrible people who only care about themselves but I believe that there’s something called hidden goodness in everyone, no matter how horrible they may be. Now think to yourself, who’s someone in your life that shows hidden