A
Complete Change of Life
In O’Henry’s short story “A Retrieved Reformation”
James Valentine must go free as he has reformed his life. First, Mr. Valentine
changes his life to be an honorable man. “At the end of a year a 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 he changed for love. This shows that James has no
need to commit crimes, because he is respectable and must not be punished. Next,
Jimmy transforms his life by giving away his tools. “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). Mr.
Spencer shows that he is really improved. He cares about what his fiancée thinks
about him. He wants her to be proud of him because she trusts him, so he has
decided to completely get reformed, to get the approval of her. He is becoming
a new person and will not do any other bad job no matter what. He is going to
let go of his precious burglar’s tools that he loved, and that were expensive
and unique. He is becoming better and should not have to go to prison. Lastly,
James Valentine uses his knowledge for good. “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). Mr. Valentine becomes a truly
good man, and his actions are respectable. Jimmy Valentine is back but just for
honorable reasons, because he rescues Agatha from the safe. No one else can do
anything about the problem, just him, and he did it. Thanks to that she is
alive. He is a hero for that child and he shows that he really cares about
other person’s life. That is why he should have his liberty. After seeing the
evidence, James Valentine must be liberated because he has changed his way of
life.
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