“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” by Bret Harte is a character-driven story about a group of citizens banished from the town of Poker Flat. The focus is not on the crimes they committed, which allows the reader to empathize more with these characters without first making a morally based judgment. The protagonist, John Oakhurst, accompanied by the company of outcasts, crosses a steep mountain range towards the town of Sandy Bar. At the insistence of the rest of the group, consisting of the Duchess, Mother Shipton and Uncle Billy, they delayed their trip. During this time, the group meets a young couple Tom Simson and Piney Woods, also called The Innocent and The Child; none of them recognize the group as criminals. Mr. Oakhurst wakes up to find that Uncle Billy has abandoned the group and has also taken the mules with him. The group finds themselves stranded as the weather worsens. With inadequate transportation to cross the snow, the group finds themselves making the most of the few supplies they have. Mother Shipton sacrifices her portions for Piney and dies of starvation. Mr. Oakhurst, ever the seemingly steadfast leader, encourages The Innocent to make his way through the snow to Poker Flat in order to find help. The citizens of Poker Flat arrive to find Piney Woods and the Duchess dead in each other's arms. Near a nearby pine tree, Mr. Oakhurst is found dead, shot in the heart, "he who was both the strongest and the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat." The theme of "Poker Flat Outcasts" illustrates that nature passes no judgment on the character of the individual because all humans are susceptible to its power. Harte ... middle of paper ...... does not appreciate untouched and good-hearted human nature. The death of Piney Woods at the end of the story confirms the theme that nature shows no bias toward moral character. On the other hand, Tom Simson's return to Poker Flat represents hope and the advantage of innocence over corruption. Harte's narrative style, word choice, and symbolic characters form a story about human nature and how it is best observed when survival is the priority. aim. Faced with death, Uncle Billy chooses to save himself at the expense of the group. The others, the alleged evildoers of Poker Flat, choose to turn altruistically towards each other. Tom Simson and Uncle Billy, the two characters most likely to have survived, represent the two opposing paths one can take in life. Death will not show prejudice towards those who are most righteous; although in life, the goodness of the heart will prevail.