The story begins in an American bar in Mexico, where several men are entranced by gambling. These men have become oblivious to the entire outside world to which they make no mention. The "ou

Undoubtedly, one's life is the product of their environment. Therefore, if gambling in a bar becomes one's primary environment, it is possible for the game to exit the bar and become their life. Earlier it is shown that the game entrances the men and even changes their character. The men become the game; therefore, when they leave the bar and enter the outside world the two are difficult to distinguish between. If one is infected or plagued by disease they don't simply get better by moving from one place to another, for the infection will still be within. Similar to the game in that: just because it was over in the bar, the inflictions within the men will follow them wherever they go. The change of environment from the bar to the outside world is not significant because the infections of the game are within and don't go away. This is the case with the New York Kid. After making good on his promise to the group, by chance he meets up with two other friends, and his game of life begins. The two other kids are drunk from some previous scheme and now depend on the sober kid to get them home. "...it chanced that three other pedestrians were passing in shadowing rank. Benson's shoulder jostled one of them."(F.766) Immediately the three Mexican grandee became the opponents of the game. By asking if they wanted to fight the Mexicans gave the three the choice to accept the challenge. The 'Frisco kid boldly answered, yes as if he were calling his opponent's bluff. Up until this time the New York kid had not wanted his bid in on this fight. Even though the 'Frisco kid seemed to be brave enough for his two friends, the readers get the impression that the New York kid is at war with himself. He was not sure if he wanted to play this game because he realizes that this is a new game to which he doesn't know the rules nor circumstances. Crane sets the scene of entrapment with the "prison-like construction - no door, no window, no opening at all."(F.766) Basically, no way out! Crane also shows the New York Kid's vulnerability by disclosing how alone he feels. "The sober kid saw his face as if he and it were alone in space - a yellow mask smiling in eager cruelty, in satisfaction, and above all it was lit with sinister decision." (F.766). The Sober Kid realizes and accepts the new game and the new possibility that he could lose something more valuable than a box at the circus. <

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1613
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)