Case #1246: Must
Jimmy Valentine be Free?
In
O’Henry’s short story “A Retrieved Reformation,” James Valentine must go free
as he has reformed his life and behavior. Initially, Mr. Valentine changes his
life to be an honorable man. “At the end of a year, the situation of Mr. Ralph
D. Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe store
was flourishing, and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks”
(O’Henry 192). Jimmy gains the admiration of the citizens of Elmore, he has an
honest job and changed for love. This shows that James has no need to commit
crimes, he is respectable and must not be punished. Secondly, James Valentine
does not want to possess his burglary tools anymore. “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).
Jimmy Valentine knows that if he wants to change for good, the first thing he
must do is to give away his tools. Love has changed Jimmy, and he swears he
will not do anything that could hurt his girl. Finally, James is using his
talent in a way that he is helping others. “With that act Ralph D. Spencer
passed away, and Jimmy Valentine took his place…. He set his suitcase on the
table and opened it out flat. In a deep silence and immovable, the others
watched him as if under a spell” (O’Henry 195). When Valentine’s fiancée’s
niece is in trouble, he does everything to save her, not caring about anything
but the little girl’s safety. That proves that Jimmy Valentine has good
intentions, and that he should enjoy his freedom. After looking at this
evidence, Mr. Valentine must be free and live a normal life, just as every
other citizen because there is not proof against him.
No comments:
Post a Comment