Many critics agree, “The Gift of the Magi” is, in all respects, an amazing and one of a kind story. One critic says, “Ironically, Fagin arrives at something utterly crucial to the success of 'The Gift of the Magi': that it has everything—an absorbing (if short) narrative drive and a twist ending that makes it wholly original” (Korb). Even renowned critic, Rena Korb, agrees; O.Henry did an excellent job with this story. Though O. Henry wrote many great stories, one of his most famous, and favorite
Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” The Young’s are a very poor couple living in New York City. James and Della Young are both scrambling to get the other something for Christmas but, neither have enough money. Even though both of the Young’s decide to give up what is most precious to them for the other, both do it out of selfless love for one another. The young couple both lose in the end what is most precious to them. However, both do receive the ultimate gift from each other and that is the gift of unselfish
story “The Gift Of The Magi” the main character Della cuts her hair,which is her prized possesion to buy a tab chain for her husband.Jim’s pocket watch.In this story the author shows us how people sometimes sacrifice for love.Unfortunetely Jim sells his watch to buy Della a set of combs for her hair. In the story the main literary element is theme,which is impacted by character, conflict,irony,setting point of view,symbolism,tone and mood.The theme in this story is love is a better gift than any
denying it. Love makes us stronger and wiser together than by being alone. This is one of the main reasons why Jim and Della Dillingham Young are so passionate for each other in O. Henry’s short story, “The Gift of the Magi”. As the holidays are quickly approaching, Della is forced to find the perfect gift for her husband by any means necessary, the readers come to realize the theme of the story is that true love for someone is shown when you are willing to give up all you have for him or her. Henry conveys
Theme in “The Gift of the Magi” “The Gift of the Magi” is a short story penned by O. Henry that is set between a young couple who want to give a very precious gift to each other for Christmas. The story ends up so that the gifts that they gave to each other had been fruitless as they both had given up the very thing the said gift was meant for. The theme for “The Gift of the Magi” is that people will give up their most valued material possessions for the ones they care deeply for. Della’s constant
“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry William Sydney Porter, also known by his pen name O. Henry, is an American short story author who is well known for his humorous stories that comes with an unexpected ending. He was born on September 11, 1862 in the state of North Carolina. Initially he was not an author. In his early years, he held many different job positions ranging from banker, journalist, to even a licensed pharmacist from the age of 19. While working as a pharmacist, this was the beginning
A common misconception throughout our society is the idea that love can only be purchased through expensive gifts and the expression of wealth. However, in “The Gift Of The Magi,” by O. Henry the theme proves otherwise. The theme, love comes through sacrifice, is a lesson learned through the mistakes of Della and Jim Dillingham, who, until then believed that expressing their affection for each other on Christmas could only be achieved using gold chains or expensive combs and looks or fortunes. They
The “Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, is a short story that unfolds in an unanticipated and remarkable way that gently tugs the reader in which makes them want to continue reading. The story is about two characters named Della and Jim. For Christmas, Della cuts her hair to sell for money to buy Jim a chain for his watch while Jim sells his watch to buy Della some fancy combs. They both couldn’t use each other's gifts properly by reason of them sacrificing what they loved likewise finding delight in
contradict what actually happens and what you thought would happen. In both “The Gift of the Magi”, written by O. Henry, and “The Necklace”, by Guy De Maupassant, irony is displayed. Both stories have strong messages with an underlying theme of irony. Irony is shown in different ways throughout both stories. The ending of the short story, “The Gift of the Magi” is very ironic. Main characters Della and Jim exchange Christmas gifts towards the end of the story. In the beginning of O. Henry’s short story
In the short story “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry tells a story of the life of a poor couple and their struggle during the Christmas holiday. It is about two characters named Jim and Della who sacrifice their most important items to get each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her own beautiful brown long hair. Jim sells his fine watch that had been passed down throughout his family. O. Henry uses many different types of literary devices to state the theme of the story and uses devices such
The Gift of the Magi is a short story by O. Henry (the pen name of William Porter), published in the New York Sunday World in December 1905. Its primary theme is love and giving. The gift of magi is centered on the theme of love for a wonderful couple comprising Della and Jim young. As a young couple, they are still great lovers. Della is a young wife and despite their economic hard times where they do not have sufficient money to cater for their needs, Della still loves Jim and is ready to sacrifice
Love is not a word that anybody can just throw around and say it without actually meaning it. In the story “The Gift Of The Magi” by O. Henry he talked about the sacrifices the two characters made for eachother and their happiness for each other was all that mattered. The story also expressed what love may truley of ment between two people. There are many things people can love but sometimes love can also hurt, lose, or drive away people and objects that have special meaning to you in some way or
Ms.Gehrsitz “The Gift of a Magi” In the short story “The Gift of a Magi” by O.Henry, a wife named Della and Jim need to get each other Christmas presents for tomorrow, but each of them on has $1.87. Della and Jim both give up their prized position; Della gives up her hair, and Jim gives up his watch to get each other a gift. They both get gifts for their prized possession they sold for money, so they need to wait until Jim gets a new watch and Della grows more hair. O.Henry uses revealing actions
The Greatest Gift The “Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, is a short story that unfolds in an unanticipated and remarkable way that gently tugs the reader in which makes them want to continue reading. The story is about two characters named Della and Jim. For Christmas, Della cuts her hair to sell for money to buy Jim a chain for his watch while Jim sells his watch to buy Della some fancy combs. They both couldn’t use each other's gifts properly by reason of them sacrificing what they loved likewise
The Gift of the Theme One must be willing to make sacrifices, knowing that the outcome will overcome the loss. Sacrifice, a main theme used in O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”, shows a ubiquitous love connection between the two characters: Della and Jim Dillingham Young. A prodigious story, this work explains how a wife/girlfriend (Della) goes about giving her love (Jim) a gift that matches his stature, which Della thinks is remarkably high. She gives up her most prized possession, her beautifully
The Gift of the Magi 1. When and where was the story written or told? What historical, social, or cultural background might be needed to understand or explain what the story is about? The story was obviously told in either the early 1900’s or mid to late 1800’s. It seemed to take place in a urban colonial English speaking area, probably in America or Britain. A way to tell that the story took place in the past, was the value of money. In the story the value of money was quite high, with $21 being
characters in the story, “The Gift of the Magi,” written by O. Henry. The two lovers live in a cheap, rundown apartment with little money to spare. When Christmas comes around, both must find ways to buy each other gifts. Through the characters’ actions and irony in the story, the theme is revealed as love can bring determination in someone to make then even sacrifice something of theirs to get the job done.
“The Gift of the Magi” and “The Necklace” are two distinctive stories with differences and similarities. “The Gift of the Magi” is about a couple who each desire to subsidize each other a Christmas gift. They both offer something beneficial in return. “The Necklace” is about an unappreciative; ravenous woman who receives a necklace from a friend. She takes it to a Ball and loses it. I will identify the differences and similarities amidst these two stories. “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry and
The Gift of the Magi deals with love, sacrifice, as well with wealth. It teaches people the importance of these qualities. In this story, Della, the wife of Jim, is facing Christmas with one dollar and eighty seven cents. She and Jim are struggling to be able to buy each other Christmas gifts, but in the end, they realize that Christmas is more than just about getting a present. King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, and the Magi are the three biblical allusions in this story. They support the theme,
Guy de Maupassant and O. Henry, the authors of “The Necklace” and “The Gift of the Magi”, are both considered to be two of the best short story writers to have ever lived. Their stories describe the trials and tribulations that young, poor couples face, as well as presenting unexpected ironic turns that in the end change the couple’s lives in different ways. These two stories are able to relate to each other through the socioeconomic similarities between the two main character’s lives, differences