Symbolism Used in Poker Flat Essays

Symbolism Used in Poker Flat Essays Symbolism Used in Poker Flat Paper Symbolism Used in Poker Flat Paper Human societies all across the world follow a set of beliefs which influence their attitude and thinking. There are certain values which are honored and followed by the members of these human societies. Among these values, the value of virtue and purity is considered to be most important for the welfare of the society. The significance attached to virtuous behavior and purity in human society is depicted in the short story â€Å"The Outcasts of Poker Flat† by Bret Harte. The story follows the journey of four outcasts who are exiled from their community named Poker Flat. Although these four outcasts are expelled from their community for failing to follow the values of virtue and purity, they display their virtuous qualities in the course of their journey when they seek to protect a young couple of lovers. Through the element of symbolism, the author brings forth the mistaken notion of virtue held by the people in the community of Poke Flat. Symbolism People regard that virtuous behavior is the most important factor which influences the welfare of a human society. If the members in a particular society are virtuous, then the peace and harmony in the society is maintained. But if some of the members of the society indulge in immoral behavior, then the peace of the society can be threatened. It is this thinking that induces the people of the town in the story â€Å"The Outcasts of Poker Flat†, to banish four individuals, who are thought to be indulging in immoral activities, from Poker Flat. These four individuals are John Oakhurst, The Duchess, Mother Shipton and Uncle Billy. John Oakhurst was a gambler whereas Uncle Bill was a drunkard, who was also doubted of being a robber. Mother Shipton owned a brothel while The Duchess worked as a saloon girl. The people of the town desired to deport immoral persons living amongst them hoping that the town will flourish after the departure of such people. â€Å"A secret committee had determined to rid the town of all improper persons. † (Harte 23). These four people were judged by the society as immoral persons so the people of the town ordered them to leave the town. After being exiled from their town, the four people embark on a journey to reach another camp which was less respectable compared to the Poker Flat. In course of their journey, they decide to halt at a place to take rest, where they are joined by Tom Simson and Piney Woods, young lovers who have eloped from their homes. Owing to a snowstorm and stealing of mules by Uncle Billy, all of them are forced to stay in a cabin discovered by Simson. It is during their stay in the cabin, that the virtuous qualities of the four outcasts are revealed. Although the outcasts behaved in a manner which was unacceptable to their society, they strove hard to protect the lives of the young lovers. Being at the mercy of nature, the outcasts struggled to keep them alive with the aid of the rations available in the cabin. Mother Shipton sacrifices her life to save Piney by leaving her rations for Piney. â€Å"It contained Mother Shiptons rations for the last week, untouched. â€Å"Give em to the child,† she said, pointing to the sleeping Piney. † (Harte 30). By giving her life for the sake of saving Piney, Mother Shipton reveals her virtuous quality. The same virtuous quality of the outcasts is presented in the story when Piney and The Duchess hold each other and sleep peacefully. The snow covers them and the author describes this happening in a manner which represents the purity of The Duchess and Piney. â€Å"Feathery drifts of snow, shaken from the long pine boughs, flew like white-winged birds, and settled about them as they slept. † (Harte 31). The white-winged birds are symbolic of virtue and purity. In their death, Piney and The Duchess looked so peaceful that it was hard to point out who was the sinner and who was innocent. â€Å"And when pitying fingers brushed the snow from their wan faces, you could scarcely have told from the equal peace that dwelt upon them which was she that had sinned. † (Harte 32). The snow washed away all the sins of the outcasts. Through the symbolism in the story, the author brings forth the virtues of the outcasts who were exiled from their community for improper behavior. The snowstorm aids in revealing the virtues of the outcasts and the snow expunges the distinction between the sinner and the innocent. The snow in the story is symbolic of the purity of the outcasts. Conclusion The story â€Å"The Outcasts of Poker Flat† by Bret Harte depicts the journey of the four outcasts who are considered to be improper individuals by the people of the town. But their virtuous qualities are revealed when in course of their journey, they make every effort to save the lives of young lovers. Being held back in their journey by the snowstorm, the outcasts and the lovers stay in a cabin surviving on the rations available there. One of the outcasts, Mother Shipton sacrifices her life to save Piney from death. Her sacrifice brings forth her virtue which was overlooked by the people of the town. Similarly, the virtue of The Duchess is exposed when in death she looks similar to the Piney who was pure and innocent. The snow in the story is a symbol which represents the purity and virtue of the outcasts. Harte, Bret. Selected Stories of Bret Harte. BiblioBazaar LLC. 2006.

A Writers Voice Is All About Choice

A Writers Voice Is All About Choice A Writer’s Voice Is All About Choice A Writer’s Voice Is All About Choice By Mark Nichol Every masterful writer has a unique voice: Think James Joyce’s avant garde stream of consciousness, Mark Twain’s just-folks dissection of the human condition, Ray Bradbury’s nostalgic haze of poetic reverie, Bill Bryson’s mirthful menageries of adjectives and adverbs. Great writers, whether literary giants or popular favorites, are the soloists of the writing choir. Most people, however, do not have, or have not yet developed, voice (otherwise referred to as mood, style, or tone), and are as yet relegated to the chorus. But it doesn’t take all that much to develop a distinctive writing voice other than practice, practice, practice and by paying attention to the components of voice, you might get a shot at a solo now and then after all. Voice is all about the choices you make: the topic, the story structure, the phrasing, the vocabulary, the details. But there’s more to it than that; there’s also the passion for the subject matter, and the fortitude of opinion. Think of the works you’ve read from the writers I named above, or your own favorites. A certain way to lose a debate is to charge any one of them with apathy about the stories they tell, or a lack of investment in their ruminations about the decadence of society, bigotry and hypocrisy, small-town idylls and ideals, or the head-shaking absurdity of the human race. This force of personality is manifested in details. Pick up a novel or a nonfiction work you admire and pick out any passage: Joyce’s intimate portraits of quotidian life in Dublin, Twain’s comic set pieces that reveal much more than is on the surface, Bradbury’s close-ups on canvases of endless, magical rural summer days, and Bryson’s apt, adept observations about eccentrics are all steeped in mesmerizing particulars that make reading about them the next best thing to being there. Ways with words and sentences, too, are a prime marker of voice: Think of Bryson’s dense descriptive sentences punctuated with hyperbole or Bradbury’s odes to halcyon days of yore, Twain’s rich, subtly sarcastic regionalisms or Joyce’s offbeat observations. These are all reflections of the writer’s personality. So many books are published today, especially with the explosion of self-published print books and e-books, that it’s hard to stand out from the crowd. One way is to come up with a unique perspective: the narrator is dead, and is observing events with a nebulous omniscience, or is from another planet, and is puzzled by the most basic of human habits and customs. But even the cleverest narrative conceit is of little use if a writer fails to inundate a story with original, authentic, individual thoughts and feelings. Many writers are inspired by an established author who they model their own style after, but the key to success not fame and fortune, but the satisfaction of having crafted a distinctive work is to discover your own storytelling style, whether you write fact, fiction, or poetry. To do so, you must understand yourself, your personality, the building materials that have gone into the construction of the edifice you are today. What joys, sorrows, triumphs, and defeats have you celebrated or suffered? How have relationships with family and friends shaped your approach to interpersonal interactions? What is your philosophy of life, and what is your answer to â€Å"What is the meaning of life?† (Mine is, â€Å"To live.† You’re welcome to copy my answer onto your paper.) A writer who fails at introspection fails at writing. To find your voice, you must sing to yourself about yourself, and transcribe the song. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Fiction Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Spelling Test 1Homogeneous vs. HeterogeneousThrew and Through