Theme: Langston Hughes successfully develops the theme in “Thank You, Ma’am” through the actions that Roger and Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones do. The theme of this short story is “our self respect is tied in with how much others trust us.” In the beginning of the story, Roger tries to mug Mrs. Jones which doesn’t go too well. She takes Roger back to her apartment to feed him by dragging him there. Once they reach her apartment, “she turned him loose”, but only to wash his face. As soon as she lets him go, “Roger looked at the door---looked at the woman---looked at the door---and went to the sink.” This shows that the boy wants to be trusted because he chose to stay with the lady. Another action Mrs.Jones does that helps develop the theme
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Henry successfully develops bad but likeable characters, “A Retrieved Reformation” is my favorite short story. Jimmy Valentine is a master bank robber who is “noted as a successful dodger of retribution,” meaning he’s good at not getting caught. When he falls in love with Annabel Adams, whose father owns “The Elmore Bank,” he reforms. After falling in love, he becomes a very successful man in the city of Elmore. O. Henry uses the allusion, “the phoenix that arose from JImmy Valentine’s ashes,” which symbolises rebirth and change. Also, “he opened up a shoe-store” in Elmore, and he “made many friends.” Not only does he start a business and become socially successful, but he also “accomplished the wish of his heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams.” Without Annabel, Jimmy Valentine wouldn’t have reformed. When Jimmy Valentine goes out with the Adam’s family, Annabel’s niece, Agatha, gets locked in a vault. Because JImmy is the only one who knows how to open a vault, he’s the only one who can save her. The problem is Annabel doesn’t know who Jimmy Valentine really was. He never mentioned anything about his past, and he also lied about his name, saying his name was “Ralph D. Spencer.” Because of this, Jimmy can save Agatha and lose Annabel, or he can let the poor girl die. He is not the same person he was in the beginning, so he decides to help Agatha, and he ends up saving her life. He left the love of his life to save a five year-old girl’s life which proves he really
Henry successfully develops bad but likeable characters, “A Retrieved Reformation” is my favorite short story. Jimmy Valentine is a master bank robber who is “noted as a successful dodger of retribution,” meaning he’s good at not getting caught. When he falls in love with Annabel Adams, whose father owns “The Elmore Bank,” he reforms. After falling in love, he becomes a very successful man in the city of Elmore. O. Henry uses the allusion, “the phoenix that arose from JImmy Valentine’s ashes,” which symbolises rebirth and change. Also, “he opened up a shoe-store” in Elmore, and he “made many friends.” Not only does he start a business and become socially successful, but he also “accomplished the wish of his heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams.” Without Annabel, Jimmy Valentine wouldn’t have reformed. When Jimmy Valentine goes out with the Adam’s family, Annabel’s niece, Agatha, gets locked in a vault. Because JImmy is the only one who knows how to open a vault, he’s the only one who can save her. The problem is Annabel doesn’t know who Jimmy Valentine really was. He never mentioned anything about his past, and he also lied about his name, saying his name was “Ralph D. Spencer.” Because of this, Jimmy can save Agatha and lose Annabel, or he can let the poor girl die. He is not the same person he was in the beginning, so he decides to help Agatha, and he ends up saving her life. He left the love of his life to save a five year-old girl’s life which proves he really