JIMMY VALENTINE - The Short Story
ON JIMMY VALENTINE:
Jimmy Valentine is introduced into the story with the warden declaring him as “not a bad fellow at heart”. A Good Samaritan stems forth from Jimmy as he is said to have many friends both inside and outside the gaol. Even the governor relents and curtails his sentence period. Not only does he suppress his wrongdoings to policemen but he also makes his dear friend aloof from his usual business. He emerges out as straightforward in principle. He craves for the ‘milky’ life as he never touches “hard drink”. His handmade tools vouchsafe his expertise and make him unique among burglars. Moreover, he is capable of being moved deeply by love. He does possess attitude, elegance and mettle; he does exude all of them. He longs love and respectable life, and he risks them, unconditionally, for others. To aver, in brief, Jimmy never fails. Indeed, he cannot.
ON BEN PRICE:
Ben Price is a rightful, law-abiding detective. He is on a mission to arrest Jimmy Valentine. He knows Jimmy and his mark of works well. Since Jimmy has been out of prison, there have been a series of burglaries, some of which bear Jimmy’s signatory stamp of skill. As unique, and even, patented safes and vaults stand vulnerable with Jimmy being free, Ben Price cannot but search for him. But, when he meets Jimmy he cannot shy away from Ralph D. Spencer in which Jimmy has been hiding himself. His humane self cannot allow Ralph to die down.
BETWEEN JIMMY VALENTINE AND RALPH D. SPENCER:
Charmed by love Jimmy Valentine ceases to become a burglar and gives birth to his alter ego, Ralph D. Spencer. Unlike the phoenix-change, Ralph retains much of what is Jimmy. Ralph is as friendly and amiable as Jimmy; he is still “not a bad fellow at heart”, as the warden remarked. The expertise and mettle that made Jimmy an innovator of unique tools for a particular business helps him shine as an entrepreneur and successful businessman. Jimmy lurks in Ralph but Ralph does not exercise stealing.
Jimmy has been put to prison for wrongdoing; Ralph enters into a respectable society by dint of his good work. Jimmy deliberately makes others, even his closest friend, Mike, aloof from his usual business with witty indifference; Ralph deliberately uncovers the veil over Jimmy and makes himself a subject to public scrutiny just to save a little girl, again, with nonchalant pragmatism. If Ralph is the epitome of a good-natured philanthropist and, if Jimmy be his creator, Ralph never dies, since Jimmy can never let him die, with his good-will being intact.
ON THE TITLE OF THE STORY:
O’ Henry titled the story of Jimmy Valentine as “A Retrieved Reformation”. An abridged and simplified version for the text has been named “Alias Jimmy Valentine”. Both these titles bear connotations underlying the thematic texture of the story. Whereas the former one lays emphasis on the change that the protagonist undergoes in a social milieu, the latter one highlights the same, playing upon the very name that signifies the instrument of change. The prefix, “alias” to “Jimmy Valentine” is ironic as it reminds one that another name, namely Ralph D. Spencer, lurks there. The title servers its purpose as it can mingle the two personas of the same person, place them on an equal plane, and even, distinguish between what a name actually bears for a man and what does not, in respect to his works.
ON JIMMY’S LETTER TO HIS FRIEND, BILLY:
Jimmy’s purported letter to his old friend and confederate Billy is a written testament of his heartfelt intention and future plan. The letter showcases the change that Jimmy has undergone over time. He gladly and proudly announces that he has forsaken his usual business of burglary and avows that he cannot go back to stealing again. And he justifies his stand reasoning that he has had the love of the world’s most beautiful woman. So, he must let go of his dearest kit of tools; and Jimmy asks Billy to come over at Sully’s Bar to inherit the kit.
Jimmy Valentine is introduced into the story with the warden declaring him as “not a bad fellow at heart”. A Good Samaritan stems forth from Jimmy as he is said to have many friends both inside and outside the gaol. Even the governor relents and curtails his sentence period. Not only does he suppress his wrongdoings to policemen but he also makes his dear friend aloof from his usual business. He emerges out as straightforward in principle. He craves for the ‘milky’ life as he never touches “hard drink”. His handmade tools vouchsafe his expertise and make him unique among burglars. Moreover, he is capable of being moved deeply by love. He does possess attitude, elegance and mettle; he does exude all of them. He longs love and respectable life, and he risks them, unconditionally, for others. To aver, in brief, Jimmy never fails. Indeed, he cannot.
ON BEN PRICE:
Ben Price is a rightful, law-abiding detective. He is on a mission to arrest Jimmy Valentine. He knows Jimmy and his mark of works well. Since Jimmy has been out of prison, there have been a series of burglaries, some of which bear Jimmy’s signatory stamp of skill. As unique, and even, patented safes and vaults stand vulnerable with Jimmy being free, Ben Price cannot but search for him. But, when he meets Jimmy he cannot shy away from Ralph D. Spencer in which Jimmy has been hiding himself. His humane self cannot allow Ralph to die down.
BETWEEN JIMMY VALENTINE AND RALPH D. SPENCER:
Charmed by love Jimmy Valentine ceases to become a burglar and gives birth to his alter ego, Ralph D. Spencer. Unlike the phoenix-change, Ralph retains much of what is Jimmy. Ralph is as friendly and amiable as Jimmy; he is still “not a bad fellow at heart”, as the warden remarked. The expertise and mettle that made Jimmy an innovator of unique tools for a particular business helps him shine as an entrepreneur and successful businessman. Jimmy lurks in Ralph but Ralph does not exercise stealing.
Jimmy has been put to prison for wrongdoing; Ralph enters into a respectable society by dint of his good work. Jimmy deliberately makes others, even his closest friend, Mike, aloof from his usual business with witty indifference; Ralph deliberately uncovers the veil over Jimmy and makes himself a subject to public scrutiny just to save a little girl, again, with nonchalant pragmatism. If Ralph is the epitome of a good-natured philanthropist and, if Jimmy be his creator, Ralph never dies, since Jimmy can never let him die, with his good-will being intact.
ON THE TITLE OF THE STORY:
O’ Henry titled the story of Jimmy Valentine as “A Retrieved Reformation”. An abridged and simplified version for the text has been named “Alias Jimmy Valentine”. Both these titles bear connotations underlying the thematic texture of the story. Whereas the former one lays emphasis on the change that the protagonist undergoes in a social milieu, the latter one highlights the same, playing upon the very name that signifies the instrument of change. The prefix, “alias” to “Jimmy Valentine” is ironic as it reminds one that another name, namely Ralph D. Spencer, lurks there. The title servers its purpose as it can mingle the two personas of the same person, place them on an equal plane, and even, distinguish between what a name actually bears for a man and what does not, in respect to his works.
ON JIMMY’S LETTER TO HIS FRIEND, BILLY:
Jimmy’s purported letter to his old friend and confederate Billy is a written testament of his heartfelt intention and future plan. The letter showcases the change that Jimmy has undergone over time. He gladly and proudly announces that he has forsaken his usual business of burglary and avows that he cannot go back to stealing again. And he justifies his stand reasoning that he has had the love of the world’s most beautiful woman. So, he must let go of his dearest kit of tools; and Jimmy asks Billy to come over at Sully’s Bar to inherit the kit.
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