The Gift Of The Magi Analysis
The Gift Of The Magi Analysis - Gift of the Magi" In 1905, O. Henry is a short story about Jim and Della, a poor young woman, who make sacrifices to buy each other meaningful Christmas gifts. Last modified on June 8, 2022 by eNotes Editor. Word Count: 909 "The Gift of the Magi" is a short story by O. Henry.
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The Gift Of The Magi Analysis
The story was first published in the New York Sunday World in 1905 and later in Henry's 1906 collection of short stories. It has since become one of Henry's most famous and widely adapted works. Set in New York City, "The Witch's Gift" details the quest of fragile young Della Dillingham Young to buy the perfect Christmas present for her husband, Jim.
Since she wanted to buy Jim a nice gift that would truly express her love for him, Della decided to sell her beautiful hair so she could buy Jim an expensive heirloom watch chain. But, in classic O. Henry fashion, the story ends with a twist: Jim sells his watch to buy Della beautiful hair curls.
However, instead of mocking the couple for their seemingly senseless sacrifice, Henry points out that their lives are enriched by their selfless love for each other. Della Dillingham Young has one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy a Christmas present for her beloved husband, Jim.
The Gift Of The Magi Summary
He was upset because he had spent months in austerity. The Dillingham Youngs are very poor, Jim's income has dropped from thirty dollars to just twenty dollars a week. Della's depression causes her to throw herself on her "fake" couch in her cheap, shabby apartment.
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She revealed that she spent hours shopping for the perfect gift for Jim; This shows how happy she is to be his wife. However, he knows that he cannot buy a suitable gift with only eighty-seven cents on the dollar. Inspiration strikes when Della sees herself in the mirror.
She wears her hair down and lets long strands hang around her. The Dillingham Youngs have two prized possessions: Della's beautiful hair and Jim's gold watch, which he inherited from his father. Della quickly tied up her hair and left the apartment after shedding a few tears.
Della to Mrs. Sophroni's hair accessories store with a "wonderful twinkle" in her eyes. Madame Sophronie asks if she will buy her hair, Madame replies that she will see first. Della lets her hair down, and Madame Sophrony gives her twenty dollars for it. Della agrees to sell her hair only to ask Madame to speed up the process.
Plot Summary
He spends the next two hours looking for the perfect gift for Jim and finally decides on a simple but tasteful platinum watch chain. He realizes that the watch chain suits Jim, because it is low, but definitely worth it. Once the chain is attached to the gym watch, he can proudly display his prized possession without being embarrassed by the leather strap he currently uses in place of the chain.
Della goes home happy with her purchase. She combs her hair carefully, but is upset with the result, saying she looks like a "coney island choir girl." Jim starts to worry that her hair is gone. When she heard Jim come to the apartment, she stood by the door and prayed that he would still find her attractive.
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Jim walks into the apartment and immediately sees Dela with an unfamiliar face. Della throws herself into his arms and says she sold her hair because she "couldn't get through Christmas" without buying him a nice present. She assures Jim that her hair is growing "too fast" and begs him to "be happy."
Jim asks Delane if she's cut her hair, looking alarmed, and looks around the room like she's looking for lost foxes. Della angrily confirms that she sold her hair, but assures Jim that she is still the same person despite the hair loss. After all, she sells her hair and gives Jim a nice present.
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When Jim wakes up, he pulls Della into his arms and assures her that he loves her no matter what. He then pulls a package out of his coat and tells Della that he knows his answer when he opens it. Della eagerly opened the package and was delighted to discover that it contained a pair of beautiful tortoise shell shoes that she had long admired in a shop window.
Her joy turns to hysteria when she realizes her hair is gone, but she tearfully tells Jim that her hair will grow back soon. Eager to give Jim her present, Della gives Jim a watch chain. But when Della asks, instead of taking out the clock, Jim sits on the couch and tells them to throw away their gifts because the situation and the current state of their marriage is "too good to use."
He then reveals that he sold his watch to support Dela. The story ends with the narrator commenting on the nature of gifts and generosity. Although the narrator calls Dylan and Jim "stupid", they are the smartest of all the people who give and receive gifts.
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The Gift of the Magi - Summary" eNotes Publication. Ed. ENotes editor. eNotes.com, Inc. eNotes.com 27 Apr 2023
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Henry the Magician's Gift Analysis Although many critics do not consider O. Henry's stories to be primary literature, some of his hundreds of stories have become classics. "The Gift of the Magi" is one such story in which a common human creates an addition. Not tragic, perhaps sentimental or of little talent, it combines themes of conjugal love and self-love with O. Henry's stage techniques and a surprise ending.
Della Dillingham Young and her husband Jim, on the brink of poverty but deeply in love, want to buy Christmas gifts that will surprise and delight the other. The narrator focuses on Della as she tries to find a way to earn enough money to buy her husband a wonderful gift.
Each has a prize: Jim's a gold watch that belonged to his father and grandfather, and Della's long, thick, beautiful hair. Suddenly, Della realizes that she can sell her hair for enough money to buy a gold chain for his gym watch. A link of facts adds to her sacrifice: she only had $1.87 but sold her hair to earn $20 to buy a watch chain.
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