Question

Think about the theme of “ People can change for the better.” How do you think the short story “A Retrieved Reformation” explores this theme.

Answer 1

Jimmy Valentine, a convicted robber, is released early from prison. He leaves town and arrives in Elmore, Arkansas. Meanwhile, Detective Ben Price suspects that Jimmy is responsible for a string of new robberies. Jimmy falls in love with Annabel Adams and decides to change his ways. He changes his name and opens a shoe store. Detective Price follows Jimmy to Elmore. He believes Jimmy will rob the bank that is owned by Annabel’s father. However, when Annabel’s niece is trapped in the bank’s safe, Jimmy rescues her. He doesn’t touch the money inside the safe. Detective Price realizes that Jimmy has changed his ways.

Answer 2

The story reminds us that when we choose to take the right path, things start to fall in places.

Step-by-step explanation:

The short story “A Retrieved Reformation”by O.Henry revolves around a person named Jimmy Valentine who was released from the prison after being pardoned. Jimmy was a safe breaker and he often involved himself with notorious gangs to break safes and rob them.

However, after he was released from the prison he wanted to start over. He chose to set another path and gave up his old ways. He even adopted a new identity by the name Ralph D. Spencer.

The story reminds us that when we choose to take the right path, things start to fall in places. Everyone makes mistakes and bad choices. We must not linger on someone else's past but rather appreciate the efforts they make to change.

In the story, when Jimmy was compelled to break the safe to save Annabel, he knew his identity would be revealed in front of the detective but after he helped break the safe, the detective did not arrest him because he knew that Jimmy was no longer the old Jimmy.

The story reminds us that people can change for the better.