Question

Think about the ending of “A Retrieved Reformation.” What can you infer about Ben Price’s opinion of Jimmy Valentine? Does bin Price’s opinion of Jimmy change toward the end of the story? Or is his opinion the same as it was at the beginning of the story? In 50 to 75 words, explain how price’s opinion of Jimmy Valentine changes over the course of the story. Use details from the text to support your inference.

Answer 1

Answer:

Detective Price at first believes that Jimmy is responsible for the recent bank robberies. He says that Jimmy has “resumed business.” Ben Price follows Jimmy to the bank and sees him rescue the trapped girl. Price realizes that Jimmy has changed his ways. Meeting him outside the bank, Ben says, “Don’t believe I recognize you.” Price lets Jimmy live his new life as Ralph Spencer.

Answer 2

Answer:

“A Retrieved Reformation”

1. At the beginning of the story, Ben Price rightly thinks that the bank robberies under investigation are committed by Jimmy Valentine, because they bear his signature style.

2. Towards the end of the story, Ben Price's opinion changed completely.  Despite Jimmy Valentine's changed identity, Ben Price, correctly recognized Jimmy Valentine after the latter confirmed his true identity by unknowingly demonstrating his stylish ingenuity by opening the locked door.  Since, Jimmy Valentine decided to surrender himself for arrest, Ben Price must have concluded that Jimmy was actually a changed man, especially now that he had fallen in love with Annabel.

Explanation:

O. Henry, the author of “A Retrieved Reformation” published the short story in 1903.  The story narrated how an ex-convict, who was wanted for a series of bank robberies, suddenly repented and relinquished the life of crime because he had fallen in love with a woman.