Luck Of Roaring Camp Analysis

“The Luck of Roaring Camp,” authored by Bret Harte, begins with the death of the only female life in the camp. She dies while in childbirth with a baby later named Tommy Luck. Tommy, throughout the story, brings out a sense of motherhood in the men. The men of Roaring Camp never experienced this kind of trait before because they believe in strict gender norms. Generally, the norms are that women raise children and the men provide. However, with the absence of a mother in the camp, the men are forced to change their perspective in order to raise Tommy. Tommy’s birth in the camp brought the men to reevaluate their strict gender norms in order to accommodate Tommy’s upbringing by forcing the men to exhibit compassion, sanitation, and protection

However even though these men are miners, they still take part in cleanliness. Stumpy takes it to an extreme when he imposes a “quarantine” on all the men who wish to have the “privilege of holding” Tommy. (14) The group of men now becomes cleaner for the sole reason of being able to nurture the Luck. Even Kentuck, who practices some relaxed cleanliness habits, shows up in a “clean shirt” every afternoon to see the luck. (14) While trying to make a good impression on the Luck, the men are slowly becoming cleaner. This, as a result, relaxes the strict gender norm that the men must be dirty. In comparison, “moral and social” sanitation was just as important as personal hygiene. As described in the book, the men could not noise pollute anywhere around Tommy because he is so young. Collectively, the men are generally trying to raise Tommy as best as a female would, proving that Tommy’s birth led the men to changing their preexisting gender

As the story begins, the men discuss giving the baby to neighboring camp, Red Dog. Females are located in Red Dog, which is why the men discuss this option. The men being “unanimous” disagree with this idea because they believe Red Dog “would swap it.” (12) Very subtly, the men believe they are the only protection for the young boy. However, this could, also, be directly related to the possibility that any of the men could be his father. The men express their protection for the upbringing of Tommy, which is generally a female gender norm of this era. The idea of making a hotel for family’s to stay in is discussed because it is believed that Tommy might “profit by female compassion.” (16) The plan is a mild form of protection to Tommy’s interest because they believe some female compassion will be beneficial. The men, however, do their best in order for Tommy to feel a sense of motherhood. As Kentuck tries to save Tommy in the last scene, he is described as “still holding the Luck” as an effort to protect Tommy from the elements. Unfortunately, Tommy dies and so does