Tuesday, August 28, 2012

In "A Retrieved Reformation" by O. Henry, what is Jimmy's attitude toward the warden?

Jimmy's attitude towards the warden is dismissive. He playfully mocks the warden by displaying nonchalance and faux innocence when the warden gives him some unsolicited advice.


According to the story, Jimmy has only served 'ten months of a four year sentence.' Because Jimmy has influential friends, his stints in prison always appear to be short. In Jimmy's eyes, he can afford to disregard the warden's impassioned advice. For his part, the warden thinks that Jimmy is a good man who just needs to buckle down and to 'live straight.'


In the conversation with the warden, Jimmy never takes the bait. He refuses to engage the warden in a discussion of his future. Each time the warden questions him about his motives or his part in a previous heist, Jimmy resorts to humor to distract the warden. In the end, the warden can only dismiss Jimmy with a blunt 'Better think over my advice, Valentine.' When Jimmy is released the next day, the warden shakes Jimmy's hand and hands him a cigar. With Jimmy's confident stance, we know that we haven't heard the last of this enigmatic character.

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