Alannah
Guardado Ventura
Emory
Henderson
English
9
October
4, 2017
Prized Possession
In O' Henry's short story "A
Retrieved Reformation" Jimmy Valentine deserves to be free
despite his criminal behavior because of his selfless acts to save a child. Firstly,
Jimmy Valentine reforms into an honest citizen. "At the end of a year
a situation of Mr. Ralph D. Spencer was this: he had won the respect of
the community, his shoes store was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged
to be married in two weeks "(O'
Henry 192). Falling in love and starting a legitimate
business makes Jimmy Valentine commit to changing every aspect
of his life. Despite his criminal past, Valentine has been reborn
he is now trustworthy and full
of integrity. Secondly, Jimmy Valentine has
redeemed himself and pledged to live a crime free life.
"She believes in me, and I wouldn’t do another
crooked thing for the whole world. Be sure to be at Sully's, for
I must see you. I'll bring along the tools with me"
(O' Henry 193) For their strong connection
Jimmy Valentine is willing to give up his most
prized possession. Finally, Jimmy Valentine uses his criminal
skills for good instead of bad. "With that act Ralph D. Spencer passed
away, and Jimmy Valentine took his place.... He set his suitcase down on the
table and opened it out flat. In a deep silence and immoveable, the
others watched him as if under a spell"(O' Henry 195). Opening the
safe saved a little girls life but ruined Jimmy Valentines. He made a new life
for it to be taken away for his skills. "Retrieved Reformation" short
story by O' Henry, main character Jimmy Valentine needs to go free for winning
the respect of everybody, not doing anything else bad and saving
a child's life.
No comments:
Post a Comment