A Retrieved Reformation

“A Retrieved Reformation” was originally published in 1903 as “A Retrieved Reform.” How do these two titles differ in meaning? What does the title reveal about the story’s events and themes?

Jimmy Valentine’s appearance is a key motif in “A Retrieved Reformation.” Why does Ben Price call him “Dandy Jim Valentine” (2)? How do Jimmy’s looks and style influence events in the story?

Over the course of the story, Jimmy has several different identities: “Valentine, 9762,” James “Jimmy” Valentine, and Ralph D. Spencer. How do events in “A Retrieved Reformation” signal Jimmy’s switching from one identity to another?