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Similes
Key Examples in A Retrieved Reformation
Situational Irony
Explanation and Analysis—Jimmy the Businessman:
After arriving home from prison, Jimmy changes into nice clothes, grabs his burglary tools, and walks by Mike, the owner of the café where he rents a room (who is part of organized crime alongside Jimmy). When Mike subtly asks Jimmy if he’s going to rob someone, Jimmy responds using verbal irony, as seen in the following passage:
In half an hour Jimmy went down stairs and through the café. He was now dressed in tasteful and well-fitting clothes, and carried his dusted and cleaned suit-case 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.”
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Explanation and Analysis—Price Walking Away:
The ending of “A Retrieved Reformation” is an example of situational irony. After trying to track down Jimmy for over a year, Detective Price finds him in Elmore, only to refuse to arrest the former burglar when he finally has the chance. The irony of this plot twist comes across in the final lines of the story:
Unlock with LitCharts A+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 recognize you. Your buggy ’s waiting for you, ain’t it?”
And Ben Price turned and strolled down the street.
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Explanation and Analysis—Jimmy Saving Agatha:
In an example of both dramatic and situational irony, Annabel pleads for Jimmy—who she believes to be a simple shoemaker named Ralph—to save her niece Agatha from being trapped inside of her father’s safe at the Elmore Bank. The layers of irony come across in the following passage, as Annabel and her family realize Agatha is trapped:
Unlock with LitCharts A+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.
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