Jim Smiley is an incorrigible gambler. Though he may like the money he wins, it is also clear that he just enjoys the thrill of competition. He frequently bets on the underdog or bets on really awkward and tactless things (such as whether the parson’s wife will recover from her illness or not). He also cultivates animals – a horse, a dog, then a frog – that he can use in his various competitions.
Questions About Competition
- Is Jim Smiley’s gambling method fair or unfair to his opponents?
- Is there any kind of implied code in the story about how gamblers are supposed to deal with one another?
- Why do you think Smiley is so trusting of the stranger, considering the general shadiness of his pastime?
- Why is it more tempting to root for Smiley than for the stranger, even though the stranger is the underdog?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Although gambling is usually seen as an unwholesome pastime, Smiley adheres to a code of honor that elevates him above others in the story, including the narrator.
Although this story is full of themes about the differences between the West and the East, and about education, the main lesson is about the rules of fair play.