When was a retrieved reformation published

Porter was dead within a year of the premiere, but Jimmy Valentine lived on. Shortly after Woollcott published his essay, the play Alias Jimmy Valentine which had already been made into two movies was revived for Broadway. For our Story of the Week selection, we resurrect Jimmy Valentine once again in the comic tale that gave him life, and our introduction discusses the two leading candidates that have been suggested by biographers as the real-life burglars who inspired the tale.

Discount offer available for first-time customers only. With contributions from donors, Library of America preserves and celebrates a vital part of our cultural heritage for generations to come.

None of these really work as a strong theme for the story but I'd consider "A". You can check out the major theme below:. When Spencer becomes Jimmy again as he breaks open the vault with the girl trapped inside, is he really like his old self? Why or why not? Many people feel that ,Jimmy has changed.

He breaks the safe in the bank so that he can save the life of the little girl. Instead Ben pretends not to know him. Price goes against the law because he believes that Jimmy is a changed man. Mike Dolan is an old friend of Jimmy valentine who helps free him out of prison.

Adam is the father of Annabelle. He owns a bank in Elmore. His granddaughter gets stuck in the very same vault he is so proud of. Jimmy hardly learns his lesson after being put behind bars. He goes back to his criminal life and continues robbing banks. Jimmy has no interest in changing his ways. His time in prison has not benefited him in any way.

Jimmy carelessly dismisses his newfound freedom and has no regard for consequences. He rebuffs his dishonest life and becomes a completely different person. His altered persona, Ralph D.

Spencer is everything Jimmy is not. He is honest, hardworking and loved by everyone. He can never truly be at peace unless he accepts his past. Jimmy attains absolute salvation when he drops his fake act. He also knows by saving Agatha, he is going to lose everything. However, he sacrifices Ralph D. Spencer and once again becomes Jimmy Valentine. Ben acknowledges that Jimmy has owned up to his sins.

This story deals with another prominent theme, that is love. Love transforms a crook like Jimmy into an upright man. It is left unsaid whether Annabelle accepts Jimmy in the end or not. He is not consistent with any of his identities. It shows his lack of trust and confidence. His identity as an incarcerated inmate is left behind as he becomes a free man. While in prison, he is referred to as prisoner , who is completely at odds with the outside Jimmy.

As a prisoner, he is not more than a few figures. While outside of prison he becomes someone of importance. He receives a cigar, a handshake and walks into some sunlight. He dresses in brand new polished clothes befitting Jimmy Valentine and not prisoner There exists a stark contrast between all identities. The identity of Jimmy Valentine is short-lived as he then embodies Ralph D. Spenser is a successful businessman, who is about to marry the love of his life.

He has the luxury of taking on whatever role he likes, according to the situation. However, it is not possible to do away with Jimmy entirely. There are still traces of him left. When he frees Agatha from inside the vault, he finally gets that he cannot run away. By opening the safe, Jimmy admits to his real self. Throughout the story, Jimmy has tried to avoid who he really is. Finally, he embraces his true identity and comes into terms with himself.

There has been harsh criticism regarding the arguable way in which Ben Price deals with the criminal Jimmy. It is highly questionable why the justice system failed to rehabilitate Jimmy. He is released earlier, without going through with his four-year punishment.

It also makes the readers doubt the motives of the authorities. The pardon given by the governor of Arkansas settles that even the higher up people are not true to their jobs. This implies that the justice system is corrupt.

The deceit goes far beyond the prison cells. Jimmy does not take the prison system seriously. He knows it is flawed and can be easily manipulated. He knows from the beginning that his friends will help buy his way out. He has no appreciation for his freedom as he knows he is not going to serve the full sentence.

He is exploited and made to work in a prison shoe shop. Instead of helping him become decent and respectable, the prison takes advantage of him. His experience in prison has been nothing but a nuisance to him. He learns nothing during his sentence. Jimmy is a runaway and a fugitive of the law. He starts his life with Annabelle without any regard for his past. His new virtuous life is perfect in every sense. Still, it is based on a lie. He can never truly be happy and free unless he makes up for his sins.

It is clear that Jimmy has rectified his mistakes and Ben sees that. He lets Jimmy walk free although, in doing so, he breaks the law. All of this makes people uncertain of how justice and law are defined.

The law is supposed to bring justice or rehabilitate a person, however that does not happen. A Retrieved Reformation is a realistic fiction that is set at the start of the 20th century.

Jimmy Valentine is the protagonist and Ben Price is the antagonist of the story. The story is in the third person omniscient. It moves between Jimmy Valentine and Ben Price. It is set mostly in Arkansas and Elmore. Jimmy goes through an internal battle within himself, whether to cover up his real identity or to keep on stealing.

Another conflict is between the main character, Jimmy Valentine and Ben Price. Jimmy is always on the run while Ben tries to apprehend him. An interesting thing in the story is how Jimmy does not have any motivation to change when he leaves prison.

He finds motivation only when he meets Annabelle.