Tite Poulette Barton Analysis

Sometimes in stories and in life, people or characters in a story may seem like outsiders, yet they may have a bigger impact than expected. This applies to protagonists: Barton in “Bastien: A X-mas in the Great Salt Marshes of Louisiana” by Sallie Rhett Roman and Kristian Koppig in “Tite Poulette” by George Washington Cable. Both of these men were in very different situations, yet they both attempted to save people who may have perceived them as outsiders. Barton helped clear the name of Bastien’s son, Paul and Kristian Koppig intervened when Madame John and her daughter, Tite Poulette, felt threatened Monsieur de la Rue. These two men, who are outsiders to the people they will help, have yet to understand the impact they will have. The story of “Bastien: A X-mas in the Great Salt Marshes of Louisiana”, begins with Barton and his friend, Leveque, going on a hunting and fishing trip, who end up seeking justice. “Look ahead down yonder at that clump of trees. There’s a house among them where an old trapper and hunter lives. We’ll halt there, and get supper and a good bed.” (Roman, 172) While at the home of the old trapper and hunter, Barton learns of the man’s, Bastien, son, Paul. Paul has criminal charges

Koppig decided to write a letter to the women. “I will be calm and cool; I will be distant and brief; but—I shall have to be kind or I may offend.” (Cable, 186) When writing this letter, Koppig has decided that this letter must respect Madame John and Tite Poulette. The following day, when the two women did not attend mass, leading Koppig to believe his letter had offended them. This is when Koppig decides that it is time for him to talk to them, but when he finds that Madame John is not home and Tite is worried, he sets out to protect Madame John. Him trying to protect Madame John results in Koppig being stabbed and ending up in Tite Poulette’s bed to