A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry Short Story Analysis

In the short story, “A Retrieved Reformation,” by O. Henry, the author articulates that even a cold-hearted malefactor can transmute with love. Jimmy Valentine, an adept bank robber, meets a comely young woman, Annabel Adams, and falls in love at first sight. Consequently, he puts behind his criminal ways, unfortunately for Jimmy, Ben Price, an investigator is still hot on Jimmy’s tail. Jimmy joins Annabel and some of her relatives to see the new bank vault, when Agatha, Annabel’s niece gets trapped in the vault. Ben Price found Jimmy, who is now taking on the identity of Mr. Ralph Spencer, and was watching this unfold, Jimmy, knowing if he opened the bank to save Agatha he would go to jail, Jimmy decides to save Agatha. Luckily Ben, realizes Jimmy has changed and acts as if he saw nothing. In this short story, O. Henry uses foreshadowing, dynamic characterization, and symbolism to convey the theme that love can reform anyone.

In the short story, O. Henry foreshadows the possible theme on multiple occasions. The reader first gets the impression that Jimmy will likely change at the commencement of the story. O. Henry writes, “‘Now, Valentine,’ said the warden, ‘you’ll go out in the morning. Brace up, and make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow at heart. Stop cracking safes, and live straight.’” (O. Henry 236). In this conversation, the warden is endeavoring to convince Jimmy to stop being a bank robber. However, Jimmy, who seems to be set on staying a criminal at the time, simply gainsays he is a criminal and goes as far as to makes it a joke. The author foreshadows that Jimmy will stop cracking safes and live straight which supports the theme, as the reason Jimmy turned good was due to his love of Annabel.

Similar to how O. Henry had foreshadowing throughout the short story, there were additionally many examples of dynamic characterization. However, the primary example of this is when O. Henry inscribes, “Mr. Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine’s ashes—ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love remained in Elmore, and prospered. He opened a shoe store and secured a good run of trade” (O. Henry 241). This is stating the change Jimmy has made, due to his undying love for Annabel. This dynamic characterizes Jimmy due to the change he made throughout the short story. This proves O. Henry’s theme limpidly: love can reform even the worst of people.

Not only does O. Henry use dynamic characterization to exhibit the theme, but he additionally uses symbolism. The reader first gets introduced with symbolism on how Jimmy is dedicated to being a bank robber early in the story. O. Henry writes, “He opened this and gazed fondly at the finest set of burglar’s tools in the East. It was a complete set…invented by Jimmy himself, in which he took pride” (O. Henry 238). Jimmy has the preeminent burglar tools around, and takes great pride in them, which shows how dedicated he is to what he does. Later in the story, O. Henry wrote, “Be sure to be at Sully’s, for I must see you. I’ll bring along the tools with me (O. Henry 241).” Jimmy, who previously took so much pride in his tools, will give them away due to his strong love for Annabel. Consequently, the tools further symbolize the theme.

People can change with love, even cold-hearted criminals. In “A Retrieved Reformation,” by O. Henry, it becomes pellucid that anyone can change if they surround themselves with the people they love. Jimmy, the criminal set on staying a criminal, finds love and lives straight, his good karma catches up with him and he is no longer in trouble for the crimes he committed. It is foreshadowing, dynamic characterization, and symbolism that O. Henry uses in this short story to create the theme that love can reform anyone, even a criminal. Even at the worst points in people’s lives, they should always recollect and surround themselves with people they love. As love can improve them and make them better human beings.