In this article I'll discuss every detail from the story ' Jimmy Valentine ' written by the popular American Writer O. Henry. This text if included in the syllabus of WBCHSE class XI. So, this article will help class XI students. It is the story of Jimmy, a burglar who later changed into a good man in love for Annabel Adams. This article will also provide you summary, analysis Questions Answers from the text Jimmy Valentine.

 

Original Name of the author - William Sidney Porter

O. Henry is the pen name of the noted and popular American short story writer  William Sidney Porter.

Born on 11th September, 1862, his parents were Dr. Algernon  sidney porter, a physician and Mary Jane virginia swaim porter.

'Jimmy Valentine' is an abridged version of O. Henry's short story , "a Retrieved Reformation." The original story was published in 1909 in his book of short stories,  "Roads of Destiny." The story was adapted into a stage play by Paul Armstrong in 1910. Through the stage production the story extremely  popular. 

'Jimmy Vallentine ' tells the tale of a safe cracker, Jimmy Vallentine. After he is released from prison,he resumes burglary. Then he goes to Elmor, falls in love with the banker's daughter annabel and decides to give up his criminal career. There  he takes up the name of Mr Ralph D. Spencer,opens  a shoe - store and achieves succes. Just  as he is about to give up his tools of the trade to an old friend there is a  twist in the tale. The defective ben Price recognizes him when Annnabel's father invites him to the bank to show him the new vault. At the bank while all are inspecting the vault, a little girl accidentally gets locked inside the vault. Annabel urges him to rescue the girl. Although he knows well that it will bring him misfortune , Jimmy opens the vault by using his burglar's tools to save the girl. Ben price pretends not to know him at all and lets him go. The story is interesting for its dramatic conflict. It is also noted for its irnoy, humour, suspense and unexpected ending. 

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Jimmy Valentine is an expert safe-cracker. He has been in prison for ten months for his crimes. As the story begins, Jimmy is called to the warden's office. Before handing Jimmy his pardon from the governor, the warden advises him to safe-cracking and to lead an honest life. 

Jimmy leaves prison the next morning, he takes breakfast at the nearest restaurant. He boards a train to meet his friend Mike Dolan. Packing hus safe-cracking tools, he leaves. A week after his release, three cases of safe-cracking are reported. Ben Price understands that these burglaries are done in the style of Jimmy. 

Leaving the town Jimmy goes to Elmore where he thinks of buliding a shoe business. There he meets Annabel Adams. He immediately falls in love with her. He goes through a transformation. He takes up the name of Ralph D. Spencer. He aspires to become a successful businessman. Developing a social position and gaining social prestige he marries Annabel. He also thinks of leaving the job of burglary. He writes a letter to an old friend and asks him to meet him in Sully's place. Ben Price by this time reaches Elmore and learns that Jimmy is going to marry banker's daughter, Annabel. 

Jimmy before setting out to Sully's place, goes to the bank along with Annabel, her sister and nieces. Annabel's father has installed a new vault in his bank and he wants to show it to all. While all are inspecting the newly installed vault the elder girl locks her sister in the vault. She gets entangled and can't get out of it. Tension arises in the story for there is not sufficient air in the vault.  Then Annabel asks Jimmy to do something so that the little girl might be rescued. Jimmy or Ralph D. Spencer takes the risk of his name and fame. He uses his burglary tools again to save the girl. Ben Price has been the observer of this scene. Jimmy wants to leave the olace. He himself goes towards Ben to surrender himself but Ben pretend not to know him at all. 

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A guard came to the prison shoe-shop, where Jimmy Valentine was assiduously stitching uppers, and escorted him to the front office. There the warden handed Jimmy his pardon, which had been signed that morning by the governor. Jimmy took it in a tired kind of way. He had served nearly ten months of a four year sentence. He had expected to stay only about three months, at the longest. When a man with as many friends on the outside as Jimmy Valentine had is received in the 'stir it is hardly worthwhile to cut his hair. "Now, Valentine," said the warden, "you'll go out in the morning. Brace up, and make a man of yourself You're not a bad fellow at heart. Stop cracking safes, and live straight." "Me?" said Jimmy, in surprise. "Why, I never cracked a safe in my life."

"Oh, no," laughed the warden. "Of course not. Let's see, now. How was it you happened to get sent up on that Springfield job? Was it because you wouldn't

prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high-toned

society? Or was it simply a case of a mean old jury that had it in for you? It's always one or the other with you innocent victims." "Me?" said Jimmy, still blankly virtuous. "Why, warden, I never was in

Springfield in my life!"

"Take him back, Cronin!" said the warden, "and fix him up with outgoing clothes. Unlock him at seven in the morning, and let him come to the bull-pen. Better think over my advice, Valentine."

At a quarter past seven on the next morning Jimmy stood in the warden's outer office. He had on a suit of the villainously fitting, ready-made clothes and a pair of the stiff, squeaky shoes that the state furnishes to its discharged compulsory guests.

The clerk handed him a railroad ticket and the five-dollar bill with which the law expected him to rehabilitate himself into good citizenship and prosperity. The warden gave him a cigar, and shook hands. Valentine, 9762, was chronicled on the books, "Pardoned by Governor," and Mr James Valentine walked out into the sunshine.

Disregarding the song of the birds, the waving green trees, and the smell of the flowers, Jimmy headed straight for a restaurant. There he tasted the first sweet joys of liberty in the shape of a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine- followed by a cigar a grade better than the one the warden had given him. From there he proceeded leisurely to the depot. He tossed a quarter into the hat of a blind man sitting by the door, and boarded his train. Three hours set him down in a little town near the state line. He went to the cafe of one Mike Dolan and shook hands with Mike, who was alone behind the bar.

"Sorry we couldn't make it sooner, Jimmy, me boy," said Mike. "But we had that protest from Springfield to buck against, and the governor nearly balked. Feeling all right?"

"Fine," said Jimmy. "Got my key?"

He got his key and went upstairs, unlocking the door of a room at the rear. Everything was just as he had left it. There on the floor was still Ben Price's collar-button that had been torn from that eminent detective's shirt-band when they had overpowered Jimmy to arrest him.

Pulling out from the wall a folding-bed, Jimmy slid back a panel in the wall and dragged out a dust-covered suitcase. He opened this and gazed fondly at the finest set of burglar's tools in the East. It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties, invented by Jimmy himself, in which he took pride. Over nine hundred dollars they had cost him to have made at-, a place where they make such things for the profession.

In half an hour Jimmy went down stairs and through the cafe. He was now dressed in tasteful and well-fitting clothes, and carried his dusted and cleaned suitcase in his hand.

"Got anything on?" asked Mike Dolan, genially.

"Me?" said Jimmy, in a puzzled tone. "I don't understand. I'm representing the New York Amalgamated Short Snap Biscuit Cracker and Frazzled Wheat Company."

This statement delighted Mike to such an extent that Jimmy had to take a seltzer-and-milk on the spot. He never touched "hard" drinks.

Text: A week after the release of Valentine, 9762, there was a neat job of safe- burglary done in Richmond, Indiana, with no clue to the author. A scant eight hundred dollars was all that was secured. Two weeks after that a patented, improved, burglar-proof safe in Logansport was opened like a cheese to the tune of fifteen hundred dollars, currency; securities and silver untouched. That began to interest the rogue-catchers. Then an old-fashioned bank-safe in Jefferson City became active and threw out of its crater an eruption of bank-notes amounting to five thousand dollars. The losses were now high enough to bring the matter up into Ben Price's class of work, By comparing notes, a remarkable similarity in the methods of the burglaries was noticed. Ben Price investigated the scenes of the robberies, and was heard to remark:

"That's Dandy Jim Valentine's autograph. He's resumed business. Look at that combination knob-jerked out as easy as pulling up a radish in wet weather. He's got the only clamps that can do it. And look how clean those tumblers were punched out! Jimmy never has to drill but one hole. Yes, I guess I want Mr. Valentine. He'll do his bit next time without any short-time or clemency foolishness."

Ben Price knew Jimmy's habits. He had learned them while working on the Springfield case. Long jumps, quick get-aways, no confederates, and a taste for good society-these ways had helped Mr Valentine to become noted as a successful dodger of retribution. It was given out that Ben Price had taken up the trail of the clusive cracksman, and other people with burglar-proof safes felt more at ease.

Analysis: A week later, a number of bank burglaries happened in the Mid-West. First, a safe was broken open in Richmond, Indiana. After two weeks, a safe in Loga sport was opened. Then, a safe was opened in Jefferson City. Here five thousand dollar was stolen. Now the losses were high enough, and it was brought to the notice of the most famous detective Ben Price. Ben Price was well aware of Jimmy's habits. He understood Jimmy Valentine was back to his job of burglary and so he set out to catch him again. 

Text: One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his suitcase climbed out of the mail- hack in Elmore, a little town five miles off the railroad down in the black-jack country of Arkansas. Jimmy, looking like an athletic young senior just home from college, went down the board side-walk toward the hotel.

A young lady crossed the street, passed him at the corner and entered a door over which was the sign. "The Elmore Bank." Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot what he was, and became another man. She lowered her eyes and coloured slightly. Young men of Jimmy's style and looks were scarce in Elmore.

Jimmy collared a boy loafing on the steps of the bank as if he were one of the stockholders, and began to ask him questions about the town, feeding him dimes at intervals. By and by the young lady came out, looking royally unconscious of the young man with the suit-case, and went her way.

"Isn't that young lady Polly Simpson?" asked Jimmy, with specious guile. "Naw," said the boy. "She's Annabel Adams. Her pa owns this bank. Why'd you come to Elmore for? Is that a gold watch-chain? I'm going to get a bulldog. Got any more dimes?"

Jimmy went to the Planters' Hotel, registered as Ralph D. Spencer, and

engaged a room. He leaned on the desk and declared his platform to the clerk.

He said he had come to Elmore to look for a location to go into business. How

was the shoe business, now, in the town? He had thought of the shoe business.

Was there an opening? The clerk was impressed by the clothes and manner of Jimmy. He, himself, was something of a pattern of fashion to the thinly gilded youth of Elmore, but he now perceived his shortcomings. While trying to figure out jimmy's manner of tying his four-in-hand he cordially gave information.

Yes, there ought to be a good opening in the shoe line. There wasn't an exclusive shoe-store in the place. The dry-goods and general stores handled them. Business in all lines was fairly good. Hoped Mr Spencer would decide to locate in Elmore. He would find it a pleasant town to live in, and the people very sociable.

Mr Spencer thought he would stop over in the town a few days and look

over the situation. No, the clerk needn't call the boy. He would carry up his

suitcase, himself; it was rather heavy.

Analysis: One afternoon, carrying his burglary tools in a suitcase, Jimmy arrived in Elmore, a small town in Arkansas. Walking towards the hotel, he met a beautiful young woman. When Jimmy looked into the eyes of Annabel, he got changed. Jimmy went to Planter's Hotel, registered his name as Ralph D. Spencer and got a room there. From the clerk he knew that Elmore needed a new shoe-shop. He thought of opening a new shoe business. Ralph D. Spencer said that he would stay there and open a new shoe business. 

Mr Ralph Spencer, the phoenix that arose from Jimmy Valentine's ashes- ashes left by the flame of a sudden and alterative attack of love-remained in Elmore, and prospered. He opened a shoe-store and secured a good run of trade.

Socially he was also a success, and made many friends. And he accomplished

the wish of his heart. He met Miss Annabel Adams, and became more and more

captivated by her charms.

At the end of a year the situation of Mr Ralph Spencer was this: he had won the respect of the community, his shoe-store was flourishing and he and Annabel were engaged to be married in two weeks. Mr Adams, the typical, plodding, country banker, approved of Spencer. Annabel's pride in him almost equalled her affection. He was as much at home in the family of Mr Adams and that of Annabel's married sister as if he were already a member.

One day Jimmy sat down in his room and wrote this letter, which he mailed

to the safe address of one of his old friends in St. Louis:

Dear Old Pal:

I want you to be at Sullivan's place, in Little Rock, next Wednesday night. at nine o'clock. I want you to wind up some little matters for me. And, also, I want to make you a present of my kit of tools. I know you'll be glad to get them-you couldn't duplicate the lot for a thousand dollars. Say, Billy, I've quit the old business-a year ago. I've got a nice store. I'm making an honest living, and I'm going to marry the finest girl on earth two weeks from now. It's the only life, Billy-the straight one. I wouldn't touch a dollar of another man's money now for a million. After I get married I'm going to sell out and go West, where there won't be so much danger of having old scores brought up against me. I tell you, Billy, she's an angel. She believes in me; and I wouldn't do another crooked thing for the whole world. Be sure to be at Sully's, for I must see you. I'll bring along the tools with me.

Your old friend,

Jimmy.

On the Monday night after Jimmy wrote this letter, Ben Price jogged unobtrusively into Elmore in a livery buggy. He lounged about town in his quiet way until he found out what he wanted to know. From the drug-store across the street from Spencer's shoe-store he got a good look at Ralph D. Spencer.

"Going to marry the banker's daughter are you, Jimmy?" said Ben to himself,

softly. "Well, I don't know!"

The next morning Jimmy took breakfast at the Adamses. He was going to Little Rock that day to order his wedding-suit and buy something nice for Annabel. That would be the first time he had left town since he came to Elmore. It had been more than a year now since those last professional "jobs," and he thought he could safely venture out.

After breakfast quite a family party went downtown together-Mr Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel's married sister with her two little girls, aged five and nine. They came by the hotel where Jimmy still boarded, and he ran up to his room and brought along his suit-case. Then they went on to the bank. There stood Jimmy's horse and buggy and Dolph Gibson, who was going to drive him over to the railroad station.

All went inside the high, carved oak railings into the banking-room-Jimmy included, for Mr Adams's future son-in-law was welcome anywhere. The clerks were pleased to be greeted by the good-looking, agreeable young man who was going to marry Miss Annabel. Jimmy set his suitcase down. Annabel, whose heart was bubbling with happiness and lively youth, put on Jimmy's hat, and picked up the suitcase. "Wouldn't I make a nice drummer?" said Annabel. "My! Ralph, how heavy it is? Feels like it was full of gold bricks."

"Lot of nickel-plated shoe-homs in there," said Jimmy coolly, "that I'm going to return. Thought I'd save express charges by taking them up. I'm getting awfully economical."

Text: The Elmore Bank had just put in a new safe and vault. Mr Adams was very proud of it, and insisted on an inspection by everyone. The vault was a small one, but it had a new, patented door. It fastened with three solid steel bolts thrown simultaneously with a single handle, and had a time-lock. Mr Adams beamingly explained its workings to Mr Spencer, who showed a courteous but not too intelligent interest. The two children, May and Agatha, were delighted by the shining metal and funny clock and knobs.

While they were thus engaged Ben Price sauntered in and leaned on his

elbow, looking casually inside between the railings. He told the teller that

he didn't want anything; he was just waiting for a man he knew.

Suddenly there was a scream or two from the women, and a commotion.

Unperceived by the elders, May, the nine-year-old girl, in a spirit of play,

had shut Agatha in the vault. She had then shot the bolts and turned the knob of the combination as she had seen Mr Adams do.

The old banker sprang to the handle and tagged at it for a moment. "The door can't be opened," he groaned. "The clock hasn't been wound nor the combination set."

Agatha's mother screamed again, hysterically.

"Hush!" said Mr Adams, raising his trembling hand. All be quiet for a moment. Agatha!" he called as loudly as he could. "Listen to me." During the following silence they could just hear the faint sound of the child wildly shrieking in the dark vault in a panic of terror.

"My precious darling!" wailed the mother. "She will die of fright! Open the door! Oh, break it open! Can't you men do something?"

"There isn't a man nearer than Little Rock who can open that door," said Mr Adams, in a shaky voice. "My God! Spencer, what shall we do? That child- she can't stand it long in there. There isn't enough air, and, besides, she'll go into convulsions from fright."

Agatha's mother, frantic now, beat the door of the vault with her hands. Somebody wildly suggested dynamite. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of anguish, but not yet despairing. To a woman nothing seems quite impossible to the powers of the man she worships.

"Can't you do something, Ralph-try, won't you?" He looked at her with a queer, soft smile on his lips and in his keen eyes.

"Annabel," he said, "give me that rose you are wearing, will you?" Hardly believing that she heard him alright, she unpinned the bud from the bosom of her dress, and placed it in his hand. Jimmy stuffed it into his vest-pocket, threw off his coat and pulled up his shirt-sleeves. With that act Ralph D. Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place.

"Get away from the door, all of you," he commanded, shortly.

He set his suitcase on the table, and opened it out flat. From that time on he seemed to be unconscious of the presence of anyone else. He laid out the shining. queer implements swiftly and orderly, whistling softly to himself as he always did when at work. In a deep silence and immovable, the others watched him as if under a spell.

In a minute Jimmy's pet drill was biting smoothly into the steel door. In ten minutes-breaking his own burglarious record-he threw back the bolts and opened

the door. Agatha, almost collapsed, but safe, was gathered into her mother's arms.

Jimmy Valentine put on his coat, and walked outside the railings towards

the front door. As he went he thought he heard a far-away voice that he once

knew call "Ralph!" But he never hesitated.

At the door a big man stood somewhat in his way.

"Hello, Ben!" said Jimmy, still with his strange smile. "Got around at last, have you? Well, let's go. I don't know that it makes much difference, now."

And then Ben Price acted rather strangely.

"Guess you're mistaken, Mr Spencer," he said. "Don't believe I recognise

you. Your buggy's waiting for you, ain't it?"

And Ben Price turned and strolled down the street.

Analysis: 

Mr Adams has installed a new vault in his bank. Mr Adams felt very proud of it and wanted to show it to everyone. Ben Price was watching all these from behind. Suddenly a voice came. May, the elder daughter of Annabel's sister, had locked the door of the safe. Her sister, Agatha was inside. Mr Adams tried to open the door but in vain. Everyone was frightened. At that time Annabel turned towards Jimmy and requested  him to do something. Jimmy or Ralph D Spencer opened his coat. Annabel handed him the rose. In ten minutes with the help of the tools of burglary he opened the safe. Jimmy after all these surrendered himself to Ben but Ben pretended not to recognise him. Ben Price understood that Jimmy had been changed. 

1. Who is the writer of the short story 'Jimmy Valentine'?

Ans- O. Henry is the writer of the short story 'Jimmy Valentine'.

2. What is the original Name of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'?

Ans- The original title of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'is 'A Retrieved Reformation '.

3. What work did Jimmy Valentine perform in the prison shop?

Ans- Jimmy Valentine used to stitch shoe -uppers in the prison shoe-shop.

4. How long was Jimmy Valentine in the Prison?

Ans- Jimmy Valentine was there in prison for nearly ten months. 

5. What was the name of the guard in the prison?

Ans- Cronin was the name of the guard in the prison. 

6. What did the clerk at the prison give Jimmy Valentine?

Ans- The clerk at the prison gave Jimmy a railroad ticket for travelling and a five-dollar bill for his rehabilitation.

7. What was the number Jimmy got in the prison?

Ans- Jimmy got the number of 9762 in the prison. 

8. What did Jimmy Valentine do first after coming out of the jail?

Ans- After coming out of the jail, Jimmy Valentine first headed towards a restaurant and he enjoyed a broiled chicken and a bottle of white wine and smoked a cigar of good quality 

9. What did Jimmy's suitcase contain? (VVI)

ANS- Jimmy's suitcase contained a complete set of burgling tools, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces ,and bits, jimmies, clamps, augers with two or three novelties invented by Jimmy himself. 

10. "He has now perceived his shortcomings"- How did the person perceive his shortcomings?

Ans- Here 'he' is the clerk at the Planter's hotel. He perceived his shortcomings when he found Jimmy dresses elegantly. 

11. Who was Annabel Adams?

Ans- Annabel Adams wa the daughter of Mr Adams, the owner of the bank of Elmore. 

12. Why did Ben Price go to Elmore?

Ans- Ben Price wanted to arrest Jimmy . That's why he went to Elmore.

13. How was Agatha trapped in the vault?

Ans- May, the older daughter of Annabel's sister had shut Agatha, the younger one in the vault in a spirit of play. 

14. How many solid bolts were there in the new vault of the Elmore bank?

Ans- There were three solid bolts in the new vault of the Elmore bank.

15. Who did Jimmy write a letter to?

Ans- Jimmy Valentine wrote the letter to Billy, one of his old friends.

Ans- Jimmy's suitcase contained a complete set of burglar's tools made of specially tempered steel. It had latest designs of drills, punches, braces, and bits, jimmies, clamps and augers. It had two or three novelties, invented by Jimmy himself. 

Jimmy gazed fondly at these tools as these  were the finest set of burglar's tools in the East. Two or three of them were novelties invented by Jimmy himself.  So he felt proud of these tools. They helped him to carry on his profession of safe-cracking successfully and skillfully. Besides, he spent a large amount of money that is almost equal to nine hundred dollars for procuring the set. His professional success depended largely on these expensive tools.

2. Describe Jimmy Valentine's course of actions from the moment he is granted parole to the time he reaches his room.

Ans- When Jimmy got pardon from the governor, he was given railroad ticket and a five-dollar bill. Jimmy went straight to a restaurant to enjoy broiled chicken and a bottle of wine. He enjoyed a cigar of good quality and went towards the depot. At the station, he threw quarter of dollar into the hat of a blind man. Then he boarded his train. It took him three hours to reach his little home town. He then went to the cafe if Mike Dolan. He took the key of the room from Mike Dolan, went upstairs and unlocked the door of his room.

3. "That's Dandy Jimmy Valentine's autograph"– Who is the speaker? What was the context of the remark?

Ans- Ben Price, the detective is the speaker of the above comment. 

After Jimmy got his pardon from the governor and was released from jail, he was involved in three cases of safe-cracking, one in Richmond, another two in Indiana , Logansport and in Jefferson respectively. Ben Price was a witty person. He visited the sites of burglaries. There he observed a remarkable similarity in all the three cases and he made this comment. 

4. Who was Annabel Adams? What impression did she have on Jimmy?

Ans- Annabel Adams was a young and lovely lady who was the daughter of Mr Adams, the owner of the bank in Elmore. 

Miss Annabel's charm attracted Jimmy. He fell in love with her. Jimmy believes that Annabel is the finest girl in the world. He looked into her eyes, forgot what he was and got changed into a different man. Jimmy's transformation from a safe-cracker to an honest and upright person became possible for Annabel Adams. 

5. What did Jimmy write in his letter to his old friend? 

Ans - After Jimmy came to Elmore Jimmy thought of starting a shoe shop. He saw Annabel and started to change internally. He wrote a letter to his old friend in St. Louis. The letter was an information about his resignation from the job of burgalry. He informed his friend that he was going to marry the finest girl on earth, that was Annabel. He promised not to do any crooked task. As he chose living honestly he wanted to give his friend the burglar's tools. He asked Billy to meet him in Sully's Place On Wednesday. 

6. Describe the character of Jimmy Valentine.

Give a character sketch of Jimmy Valentine.

Ans- Jimmy Valentine is the protagonist of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'. He is intelligent, young and handsome. In the very beginning of the story he is found to be engaged in the job of burglary. He is an expert in burglary. Later on we find a change in his character. An infamous safe-cracker at the beginning, he establishes himself as an honest lover and a successful businessman after he fell in love with Annabel. Coming to Elmore he assumes the name of Ralph D Spencer and opens a shoe store. At the bank when a little girl gets locked inside the vault, Jimmy came forward to rescue her. Though he vowed not to touch his burglary tools, on request of Annabel he opened his tool box and rescued the little girl from the vault. He does it only for the sake of rescuing others. His reformation from a burglar to an honest and upright man makes Ben Price sympathetic of him. 

7. Write a note on the title of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'.

Ans- In the story, Jimmy Valentine is the central character. He goes through ups and downs. The entire plot moves towards its final end yet the focus is fixed upon Jimmy. Jimmy is intelligent, handsome and innovative. He is a safe-cracker. He becomes infamous as a safe-cracker. He is convicted, released from prison and resumes his old trade of burglary. He meets a young and beautiful lady Annabel and seeks to love her. He undergoes a radical change in his character and personality. The change from a safe-cracker to an honest and upright person and also a successful businessman is noteworthy. His new name is Ralph D. Spencer. When Jimmy rescues Agatha ,Ben Price observes the whole scene. At the end Ben Price is allowed to live a straight life. 

8. Why does the author compare Jimmy Valentine to Phoenix bird? 

Ans- Jimmy Valentine is the main character of the story 'Jimmy Valentine'. He goes through a transformation when he sees Annabel. He takes the new name of Ralph D. Spencer. These two names are the two different stages of life for him, though they are different in profession, association and place and sphere of work, financial condition. Jimmy Valentine is a notorious safe-cracker while Ralph D. Spencer is a successful businessman. Jimmy Valentine is a criminal, who is chased and hunted by Ben Price. On the other side, Ralph D. Spencer is  representative of respect and honesty. 

A phoenix is a bird that is born from its own ashes. Jimmy Valentine in story transforms into a good human being . Ralph D. Spencer is the phoenix rising from the ashes of Jimmy Valentine burning in the fire of love for Annabel.