Anticriminal Life
In O. Henry’s short story “A Retrieved
reformation,” Jimmy Valentine must go free, as he has transformed 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 changes for love. This shows
that James has no need to commit crimes because he is respectable and must not
be punished. Next, Mr. Spencer decides to give away his implements. “She
believes in me, and I would not do another crooked thing for the whole world.
Be sure to be at Sully’s, for I must see you. I will bring along the tools with
me” (O’ Henry 193). Prisoner 9762 was deeply in love and his conscience is
driving him crazy, so he decides to take his tools and give away. He needs to
let his past walk away from him, so no one would know about it. This
demonstrates that Jimmy has no intention of commit another crime. Lastly, Jimmy
Valentine reveals himself and does a heroic act. “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, he others
watched him as if under a spell” (O’ Henry 195). While citizens were watching
him astonished, Valentine rescues Agatha by using his drill to open the safe.
This heroic act shows the readers that he would not use his tools for ambition,
but for a good reason or if there is no other option.
Once
the reader looks through his accessible evidence, the conclusion is that Ralph
D. Spencer ought to go free due to his demonstrated acts of reconstructing his
life.
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