Every short story requires a central character or protagonist who is motivated to take action or react to an outside force to achieve some purpose. In O. Henry’s story “A Retrieved Reformation,” the central character is Jimmy Valentine. In the first part of the story, we know him as Valentine, 9762, a parolee with superb safecracking skills. In the section you are about to read, Jimmy adopts an alias—not a surprising move for an ex-convict with no intention of going straight.

O. Henry uses direct characterization to tell us some things about Valentine. For instance, he writes that Jimmy “had won the respect of the community,” and “his shoe-store was flourishing.” Most of what we know about Jimmy’s character, however, is revealed through his thoughts, actions, and others’ reactions to him.

O. Henry employs both direct and indirect characterization to divulge information about his dynamic protagonist, Jimmy Valentine. Remembering the acronym STEAL—an apt mnemonic for a story about a safecracker—helps us see all the indirect ways this skillful author brings Jimmy Valentine to light.

For the next exercise, the sentences in the story have been numbered to enable you to reread quickly. Decide which STEAL method (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, or Looks) method reveals the described character trait(s) or action(s). Remember: minor characters in the story, such as the antagonist Ben Price, can also divulge information.

As you begin thinking about your own short story, you might want to think about how you can use indirect and direct characterization. If O. Henry used direct characterization to describe everything we know about Jimmy, the story would be longer and much less interesting. Think about how you will use indirect characterization in the story you are getting ready to write.