Jimmy Valentine Quotes

Jimmy Valentine is a changed man. He went to prison because he was a professional robber. When he was being released, the warden told him that he can live a straight life now that he is back in the real world. First, Jimmy changed because he found love, he found a girl that he really loves and wants to be with. Second, he is leaving the past behind him because he is trying to move on with his life and not concentrate on what he did, but concentrate on what he is going to change about his life. Last, he found success in his own way, he owns a shoe store, and he made the best of his situation.

Jimmy is a changed man because he found love. According to the text, “... he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks”. He is getting

married so obviously he has enough heart to love someone. Another line from the passage says, “Socially he was also a success, and made many friends”. He is not only loved from his fiancé, but he is also loved by his friends. A passage from the text says, “He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more captivated by her charms”. He is truly in love with Annabel.

Jimmy is a changed man because he is leaving the past behind him.

Jimmy’s letter says, “Say, Billy, I’ve quit the old business--a year ago”. He is telling Billy that he isn’t breaking the law anymore. Also in his letter, Jimmy says, “I wouldn’t touch a dollar of another man’s money now for a million”. He isn’t stealing anymore because he likes his new life and isn’t a thief anymore. In the end of Jimmy’s letter, he signs off by saying “Your old friend, Jimmy”. He said “old” friend because he doesn’t want to be with his old, thieving friends

anymore.

Jimmy is a changed man because he found success in his own way. In his letter to his old friend, it says, “I’ve got a nice store. I’m making an honest living…”. He has made a store all by himself and is making a good living. In the passage, it says, “He opened a shoe store and secured a good run for trade”. He made good money from the shoe store he opened. The story says, “I’m getting awfully economical”. He is getting on the economic side of things in business and his business is doing well.

Yes, you could say that Jimmy is still the same thief he always was.

There are a few points that could be noted and remembered as proof that Jimmy didn’t change at all. The passage says, “He set his suit-case on the table, and opened it out flat”. He still had the suit-case containing his precious robbing tools with him, and could have been planning on robbing again sometime soon. The story says, “In a minute Jimmy’s pet drill was biting smoothly into the steel door”. If he hasn’t robbed or stolen in a year now, how does he still know how to break into a safe so easily? Jimmy can’t just erase the past, he is still a lawbreaker and he probably still has possession of the items he had stolen back in his thieving days. Although these points can be a good argument, there is more evidence of Jimmy turning into a good man. Jimmy is a changed man after being released from

prison.

Jimmy is a new, changed man. He changed because when he left prison, the warden’s words stuck in his head; “You’re not a bad fellow at all. Stop cracking safes, and live straight”. There are three main reasons that are proof that he is a changed man. Jimmy changed because he found love, he is leaving the past behind him, and he found success in his own way.