John Oakhurst: A Paradox of Strength and Weakness

John Oakhurst is a complicated character conflicted between his head and his heart. His confliction between the two leads him to his untimely demise. He was a contradiction his actions spoke of a character and strength most would never have and yet his decisions showed foolishness. His weakness was emotion swayed by how he felt it ultimately lead to his death. However it was also his strength through his death he showed the strength of his conviction to save others. John Oakhurst was a gambler he understood the risk and calculates the highest probability so when he was kicked out of town “He was too much of a gambler not to accept fate. […] and he recognized the usual percentage in favor of the dealer”. Oakhurst is not out to die he lives

For a logical man, Oakhurst made a very illogical choice. Looking at the scene where Uncle Billy takes the food and runs off he is a symbol of the path that Oakhurst did not take. If he was thinking logically and had chosen to leave the group it would have given him the best rate of survival. However Oakhurst is not the sort of man that leaves that leaves people behind but someone who often takes care of people“ “Tommy you’re a good little man, but you can’t gamble worth a cent don’t try it again”. He then handed him his money back, pushed him gently from the room”(Harte). He is a good man a fair man who shows modest kindness behind his calm and collected exterior. Oakhurst has been alone because of his profession of gambling but his bond with Tommy when they meet again changes him not only him but Tommy and Piney’s innocence change all the outcast for the better “the innocent was holding forth apparently with equal effect, to Mr. Oakhurst and mother Shipton, who was actually relaxing into amiability”(Harte). It was Oakhurst’s bond with Tommy that saved him from the loneliness he was