In the story A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry, Jimmy Valentine is an infamous and highly skilled bank robber. When Jimmy moves to Elmore, he decides it is time to give up bank robbing and become a reinvented and better person. Jimmy Valentine is erased and Ralph Spencer, the well-respected, honest shoe shop owner is the man that is written over the old Jimmy. The story conveys that people can change, and being able to accept people when they change is very generous and is a sophisticated thing to do.
Jimmy made a living from robbing banks and people all over the country wanted to capture him. Whenever he was placed in jail, he would always get bailed out shortly afterwards. Ben Price, a detective who had been trying to catch Jimmy for years, tracked him down to Elmore. “‘Going to marry the banker’s
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One device used is an allusion. “Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes.” O. Henry compares Jimmy to a phoenix- a great, powerful, positive thing that came from a dishonest crook that really didn’t deserve to be as successful as he was. Meeting Annabel caused Jimmy to want to make this transformation because he knew that an honest girl would never fall in love with a robber because she wouldn’t be able to trust him.
Another literary device used by O. Henry is irony. Ben Price let Jimmy go even after he saw Jimmy doing the thing that was the reason Ben was searching for him in the first place. Ben witnessed Jimmy breaking into a bank, something Ben never imagined he would witness. The difference was, Jimmy had changed his entire outlook on life and he had different values in life. He no longer valued money and possessions obtained illegally; he wouldn’t accept capital unless he had earned it. Ralph Spencer valued honesty and hard work. O. Henry’s surprise ending is a clever way used to develop the theme of the
William Tyndale born in 1494, was a leading figure in ‘The Protestant Reformation’ in England. William Tyndale was the first to translate the Bible into english drawing text straight from the Hebrew and Greek text. Like Martin Luther, Tyndale took advantage of the Printing Press using it for the mass production of the newly English bible, this allowed the wide spread of the English Bible throughout the England. William Tyndale’s actions were noticed and seen as a direct challenge to the Roman Catholic Church.
Jimmy got a new job for Annabel and himself, and a new job. He earned his money a respectful way other than stealing it. He has given up stealing, and started to make money a legit way. It says in the story “ I’ve quit the old business a year ago. I’ve got a nice store.
Jimmy Valentine is a somewhat sympathetic fellow. When he was released from prison, he was even given five extra dollars to make something of himself. After he moved to a new town, he met a girl named Annabelle and fell in love. He used to crack open safes and steal money. One day he decided to give up his pristine condition safe cracking tools. On the way him and a few other guests stopped at the bank Annabelle’s father owned. One of the children he was with got stuck in a vault and he saved her. All of this evidence proves that Jimmy Valentine should stay free.
Martin Luther: German friar who believed that only the Bible was God’s word and started Protestant Reformation
In the short story “Retrieved Reformation” by O.Henry. The author uses allusion, symbolism and verbal irony to keep the reader entertained.
The following of the protestant revolution was under the effect and power of three of the most influential people such as Martin Luther, John Calvin and Henry VII because of this the Catholic Church was in need of a reform. To clean up the dishonesty and to make the teachings simpler to understand Pope Paull III made The Council of Trent, the council had four main roles that they wanted to make clear and they were to clarify the Catholic Doctrine; prevent Protestantism spreading; re own the parts of Europe the lost due to the Protestants and to stop the spread of Catholicism. Pope Paul called the Council and he was the person to decide the council into three sessions this occurred over the years of 1545 to 1564. During these three sessions
Separated from his mother at a young age, all Jimmy wants to do is to be reunited with his mother again. Jimmy begins as a mischievous and cheeky young boy who steals food and desperately wants to be chosen by a white family from Cranby Children’s Home. Once his wish finally comes true, Harrison’s script implies that he is abused and beaten by the family and returns to the Home silent and mentally scarred. As Jimmy grows to become a man, he hears that his mother is not dead and still alive out there looking for him, only to be betrayed and discover she is dead. Losing all hope and falling to an alcohol addiction, Jimmy finally loses his will to live as well, taking his own life and saying aloud the writing on a letter from within a noose. This
One detail to prove this theory right is, “In a minute Jimmy’s pet drill was biting smoothly through the steel door.” (O Henry, pg 6). After seeing a girl being trapped in a bank vault with no person near the town that could save her, Jimmy knew what he had to do even if it would cost his good life. Another reason that proves this right is, “He set his suitcase on the table and opened it out flat.” (O Henry, pg 5). Jimmy opened the case of tools clearly recognisable by Ben meaning he was going to sent to jail after. A final quote to prove this is, “Got around at last, have you? Well let’s go, I don’t know that it makes much of a difference now.” (O Henry, pg 6) Jimmy knows he was caught clearly going to jail, hence him admitting to his crimes. As you can see, Jimmy is living a moral
In the short story, A Retrieved Reformation by Henry has its main character named Jimmy Valentine brought out to be a dynamic character. The expresses Jimmy’s roundness thoroughly throughout the story with different situations. Generally the plot of the story is that this man that just got released out of prison goes back to his olds and does the same exact as what got him in jail in the first place. But then while the man tries to hide his identity with a fake one it takes over he and he became this new person. And the in between is what caused jimmy valentine to be the person he should be and becomes. Mainly Jimmy did not have much humanly emotion as a person should, he tries so hard not to show who he really is he becomes new person, and
The story “ A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry tells the tale of a man living the life of crime. Jimmy Valentine was one of the most successful bank robbers of his time, but he was caught and shut down at a job in Springfield. He was later pardoned by the governor, and quickly began the life of crime again. His spree continued until he reached the town of Elmore, Arkansas where he met a woman named Annabelle. He immediately fell in love with her, and settled down with her, opening a shoe shop, and giving up the life of crime, claiming that he “wouldn’t touch a dollar of another man’s money for a million.” One Theme the story conveys is that not everyone is who they may seem to be.
Though there was no driving force like Luther, Zwingli or Calvin during the English Reformation, it succeeded because certain people strived for political power and not exactly for religious freedom. People like Queen Elizabeth I and Henry VIII brought the Reformation in England much success, however their reasons were based on self-gain and desire for political power.
The intriguing short story, “A Retrieved Reformation” written by O. Henry speaks the story of a man who is trying to turn his life around. Starting in prison by the name of Jimmy Valentine, he creates a vile reputation for himself as a villainous criminal. This reputation follows him all through his life but, when he sees a glimpse of being able to have a “perfect” life he snatches it up. After meeting the alluring Ms.Annabel, Jimmy changes his name to Ralph Spencer and commences a different life, but showing his true background could mess everything up. One theme this story suggests is that love can alter a person's life.
“The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.” -Bob Marley. Jimmy Valentine robbed banks and never had to suffer the consequences, thanks to his large network of supporters. After countless successful robberies and evasions from the law, Jimmy decided to go quiet and put on an alternate identity. He became Ralph Spencer and moved to Elmore, a quiet town, where he set up a shoe store and became engaged to a woman named Annabel. Jimmy Valentine was truly dedicated to living a moral life because he was willing to dispose of all evidence of his past doings, he was earning money through honest means, and he
that he was a changed man so Ben did not arrest him. In the letter Jimmy lied about going to Little Rock to give away his tools he actually was going to rob another bank. There is no evidence to support that Jimmy was going to Little Rock to rob another bank. Finally Jimmy did not change for Annabel he only acted different so she would like Jimmy and he would be able to get close to the bank to rob it. Jimmy fell in love with Annabel the first time he saw her, Annabel thought fondly of him so Jimmy was not only acting different to rob the bank. All of these arguments can not be supported by evidence so Jimmy was able to change.
Change is not always pleasing, but in Jimmy Valentine's case you could become a new person. Jimmy Valentine was a crook who just got out of jail and was told to live a worthy life. He moved to Elmore, changed his name to Ralph D. Spencer and got a job to have a steady lifestyle. Ralph was a changed, great human being who had a happy life with no crime. Valentine was truly dedicated to living a moral life because he got a job, he was giving away his old life habits, and honestly fell in love with Annabel.