On Bret Harte' s The Outcasts of Poker Flat (3)

Yuen M. Ho
English 48B
January 19, 2007
Journal #8 Bret Harte

I. Quote

“He was too much of a gambler not to accept Fate. With him life was at best an uncertain game, and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer.”

II. Summary

This quote does not sound unusual or brilliant at its first glance, given the context that Mr. Oakhurst was a gambler facing deportation because he had won a considerable amount of money from Poker Flat. This quote may be just spelling out the uncertainty he felt at that time, despite his appearance of absolute calmness.

Nevertheless, by looking closely at the line “life was at best an uncertain game,” we may speculate that Harte was not just trying to describe the sharp turn of life faced by Mr. Oakhurst. He might be generalizing this story of a gambler to something bigger, and more significant – fate and life.

If life is game, we are all gamblers like Mr. Oakhurst. The dealer can be God, boss, parent, spouse, or even money and fame – it can symbolize anything that takes control of us and something that wins our heart and mind. We always want to win in this game. Yet, the nature of life is uncertain, and just like Mr. Oakhurst, even if we manage to gain a profit, we may not be able to secure it – life is always full of uncertainties and “the usual percentage” is “in favor of the dealer.”

III. Response

This quote prompted me to ponder over the question of life again. I am a religious person, and I always believe that the fate people always mention is indeed determined by God. If God is the dealer, we will always lose this game – feeling desperate, drained and hopeless – if we do not include God in our life, for he is in control of everything. Yet, if our fate has been long pre-determined, then we better accept it with the calmness Mr. Oakhurst has demonstrated.

While life is full of uncertainties, it is such a quality that makes life worth living. We may worry, but through these moments of worry we learn to surrender our control to something higher above.

Even for non-religious people, regarding life as a game can be a helpful attitude to help one to persevere through low points. There is never an absolute winner, so why not just enjoy the game and have some fun before it ends?