From Bret Harte's "The Outcasts of Poker Flats", with supporting details, show which of the two answers is correct.- When times are rough, people...

Based upon the fate of the "outcasts," I would say that
Bret Harte's story of "The Outcasts of Poker Flats" is presenting the reader with an
example of how people come together and change when times are
rough.

This is not to say that the first theme is not a
common one, but it does not apply to this
story.

To support this, Mother Shipton, "once the strongest
of the party," becomes weak and dies; her strength gives way to self-sacrifice as she
hoards her rations for Piney, showing a change in her priorities and a glimmer of the
potential for goodness beneath the surface.

Oakhurst, the
gambler, has some decency under his self-serving exterior. He once returned money to
Simson when he the younger man lost it to Oakhurst in a poker game. When the snows
arrive, Oakhurst shows what he is worth by electing to stay with the women while Simson
goes for help. He also covers up the death of Mother Shipton to encourage Simson to
travel to save her, saying that her only chance rests with Simson. (In essence, he also
saves Simson's life by sending him away.)

The Duchess is a
prostitute, but her heart is won over by Piney's innocent respect for her, and Piney's
love for Simson. The Duchess has become warmed by the love of Piney. The Duchess and
Piney stay close as the snow continues to fall, hugging each other for warmth and from a
mutual concern for the other. When a rescue party finally arrives, they find the two
frozen together in death.

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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.

Oakhurst's concern
for the others is seen earlier when he stays behind. He finally kills himself; at first
I wasn't sure if he did this because he didn't want to take rations from the others, but
I don't see this "new" man leaving the women to fend for themselves. There is also no
mention that the women hear the sound of a gun going off. I expect that rather than face
a lonely death in the snow, Oakhurst gathers his courage around him and takes his life
when the others have already died.

Most certainly, the
story shows a metamorphosis among these "outcasts," these "undesirables." Ironically,
when their chances of survival seem to become poor, the outcasts do all they can to
protect Simson and Piney so they are not only unaware of how the change in their
circumstances, but are able to abide in their love for each other rather than being
frightened.

The second answer is the correct one: when
things get rough, people can come together and change, doing things out of character
from their previous lives.