Gift Of The Magi Theme

Written past O. Henry, "The Gift of the Magi" short story is a archetype piece of American literature. It centers on a couple who don't have a lot of money and, as a result, find it difficult to buy each other Christmas gifts. Yet, like much of Henry'due south writing, this tale has a much deeper meaning than goes across giving meaningful presents to your loved ones.

The ever-popular short story has been adapted into multiple Telly specials and movies, and, every year, information technology's a story folks read once more and once again during the vacation season due to its themes of love and sacrifice. So, what actually unfolds in "The Gift of the Magi" story? We're diving into the plot, themes, and more than of this indelible tale.

'The Souvenir of the Magi': Theme

"The Gift of the Magi " was originally published in 1905 in The New York Sunday Earth, and, afterwards, it was republished in the O. Henry anthology The Iv Million. Typically, Henry'south stories are marked by humor, twist endings, sentimentality, and life lessons; this story reflects all of those features.

So, what happens in "The Gift of the Magi," exactly? Here'due south our quick summary:

The narrator tells the tale of a immature husband and wife, Jim Dillingham Young and Della Dillingham Young, who are trying to buy each other surprise Christmas gifts. And fifty-fifty though they don't take much coin, their relationship is filled with love. The twenty-four hour period earlier Christmas, the both Jim and Della give up something they love very much in club to get the other a gift.

That is, Della cuts and sells her hair at a local store so that she can buy Jim a beautiful platinum watch concatenation. Meanwhile, Jim buys Della an exquisite set up of combs she'd been wanting. Saddened by the fact that she no longer has pilus to brush with them, Della presents her gift to Jim, who, upon seeing the sentinel chain, reveals that he sold his watch to buy the combs. The 2 put their gifts away and enjoy dinner together. In the end, the narrator notes that, "But in a terminal word to the wise of these days, let it exist said that of all who requite gifts these two were the wisest. … They are the magi."

Although it'southward a short story, "The Gift of the Magi" and its powerful themes even so that resonate with millions to this solar day.

Although modern adaptations of this story provide a more specific setting, the original story does not mention a particular place. Even so, with a reference to Coney Island — Della believes that Jim will compare her to a "Coney Isle chorus girl" later on she cuts her pilus — readers can assume the story is prepare in New York City. In fact, Henry himself was from in that location, leading many to assume Jim and Della were too.

Moreover, this story was published during the early 1900s, so many assume the writer prepare the story in his own time menstruation. And the narrator makes it clear that their flat was inexpensive at $eight a week, with Jim's income beingness cut from $thirty a week to a mere $xx a week, farther cementing the fourth dimension period during which the story is set up.

'The Souvenir of the Magi': Characters

There are three principal characters in "The Gift of the Magi." Most notably, Della is the loving and devoted protagonist of the story. There'due south also her husband, Jim, who works long hours for little coin.

The story also briefly mentions Madame Sofronie, who owns the pilus shop where Della gets her cut. Interested in money, she is very direct with Della and gives her a non-negotiable offering of $20 for her hair. It doesn't really matter to Madame Sofronie that Della is giving up her nigh prized possession.

'The Gift of the Magi': Conflict

The main conflict in "The Gift of the Magi" centers around the Dillingham Immature'southward financial woes. Della doesn't take enough money to buy the gift she wants for Jim — and vice versa. Their current financial situation is something she can't quite shake from her listen, and, even though Della saves for months, it's non something she can overcome.

Eventually, Della then has to make a very personal conclusion to resolve this conflict. If she cuts her hair, she can beget the gift she believes Jim deserves. Merely, of course, Della's long pilus is her pride and joy. This makes her sacrifice all the more than meaningful. In fact, Della'due south souvenir becomes more near sacrifice and less about the watch chain she buys for her hubby.

'The Souvenir of the Magi': Symbolism

Equally this is a Christmas story, "the Magi" is a reference to the bible's Iii Wise Men. These three followed the star to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, then that they could requite him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

These gifts, much like Della's and Jim'southward, held greater value rather than only material wealth. That is, they were of spiritual significance, representing Jesus's nascence and, as many Christians believe, his sacrificial expiry and later resurrection: equally a metal, Golden is a symbol of earthly kingship; frankincense, an incense, is a symbol of godliness; and, finally, myrrh, an embalming oil, is a symbol of expiry.

The symbols in the short story include Della'southward hair and Jim'south sentinel, both of which go symbols of their love and sacrifice — equally well every bit the picayune material (or financial) success they practise have despite their overall circumstances. Although they may at first come across every bit foolish for sacrificing their most prized possessions for worldly gifts, Jim and Della turn out to symbolize wisdom, much similar "the Magi" referenced in the story'due south title.

Gift Of The Magi Theme,

Source: https://www.reference.com/world-view/moral-lesson-story-gift-magi-2b1e56e5df5a55d2?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740005%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex&ueid=638834e2-6412-48f8-9a2a-fc8c80e79de6

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