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Essay On A Retrieved Reformation By O Henry

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Love can change the view of everything for everyone. In the story, “A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry, Jimmy Valentine was trying to live a moral life. But after planning to do more crime, love changed his life. Ending his life of crime as well. Jimmy Valentine was truly dedicated to living a moral life by ending his safe-cracking career, saving a life though, it would cost his career, and being in a relationship. One strong detail to prove Jimmy was trying to live a moral life was that he quit cracking safes. A quote to prove this is “He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade.” (O. Henry, pg 3). By creating this new business, Jimmy could forget about his old self. Another quote to prove this point is “...I’ve quit the old business a year ago.” (O. Henry, pg 4). In Jimmy’s letter to his old friend, he informs him that he has quit the old job of cracking safes. A final quote to prove this correct is, “After I get married I’m going to sell out and go West, where there won’t be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me.” (O. …show more content…

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

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