The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry Essay - 1234 Words

Stories of love and sacrifice abound in literature. Perhaps one of the most well known stories among teens and adults is the tale of a poor, young couple struggling to find the perfect Christmas gifts for each other using their very limited means. They each manage to get what they think is the perfect gift for the other, but only accomplish this by selling a prized possession which effectively makes the new gifts impractical. This bittersweet narrative, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, illustrates the moral idea that a person, motivated by nothing but love for another, can possess a willingness to give in a self-denying way which necessitates that the reader consider that wealth be measured by something more than having money†¦show more content†¦The Magi most likely came a long distance from Persia and sacrificed much to present their costly gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the child. These gifts were esteemed not only because of their intrinsic value, such as the precious metal, gold, but also for their medicinal properties and were traditionally given to a king as a gift of honor. The Magi, also known as wise men or kings, are just that, wise men. They know the value of bringing the gifts to baby Jesus not because He needed gifts, but to show their devotion to Him. They brought these valuable gifts out of respect and love for the new Savior. Love is a defining force for Della and Jim too, overshadowing the poor condition of their finances. Jim and Della do not have much. They would most certainly be considered to be in the lower class, living in a little $8 a week flat in the city and going from a sufficient income of $30 a week to a less than adequate $20 a week with Jim in need of a new overcoat and pair of gloves (Henry). Henry articulates how their love for each other transforms their drab house and surroundings and gray circumstances into a warm and inviting refuge called home. â€Å"One dollar and eighty-sev en cents. That was all Della had,† not nearly enough to get a gift worthy of her beloved Jim (Henry). She desires nothing but to please him and considers him worthy of somethingShow MoreRelatedThe Gift Of The Magi O Henry Analysis787 Words   |  4 Pages In The Gift of the Magi O. Henry brilliantly uses vivid imagery, laughable irony, and a sentimental tone to fully develop an overlaying theme of sacrifice. Imagery is very important in this story, especially when it comes to describing Della and Jim’s treasures so the reader can fully grasp their significance. There are so many good examples of the rich imagery including, â€Å"There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it. Which instigatesRead MoreLove And Selflessness In The Gift Of The Magi By O. Henry702 Words   |  3 PagesIn the â€Å"Gift of the Magi† by O. Henry, there are many ideas about love and selflessness. These concepts are communicated throughout the story through Della and Jim’s hardships. The couple is unprivileged, but they seem to sacrifice what they have, to bring happiness to the other, like the Magi. In the end both find enjoyment in their gifts since they sacrificed something they love, but it shows how much they actually love one another. In O. Henry’s, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi†, the theme explainsRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi: Narritive Essay1549 Words   |  7 PagesTheme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi ENG 125: Introduction to Literature Theme and Narrative Elements: The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi is a short story that was written by William Sydney Porter, better known by his pseudonym O. Henry in 1906. O. Henry was a prolific author penning many short stories beginning in 1899 until his death in 1910. O. Henry is famous for his trademark surprise endings which he called â€Å"snapper† endings (Clugston, 2010) andRead MoreTheme Of Sacrifice In The Gift Of The Magi746 Words   |  3 PagesO. Henry’s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a story about a couple who buys and gives each other gifts for Christmas. Upon receiving these gifts, the couple discovers that they have each sacrificed the possession necessary to properly use the gift. In the short story, O. Henry implements specific descriptions, character’s actions, and major comparison to develop his overall theme of sacrifice. Firstly, to develop the theme of sacrifice, O. Henry uses specific descriptions of the characters and their possessionsRead MoreThe Gift Of The Magi1132 Words   |  5 PagesThe Magi refers to the Wise Men or Kings in the Gospel of Matthew and Christianity. They visit Jesus after his birth and bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to him. Also, they are important figures of celebrations of Christmas. Christmas gifts are precious, so people want to receive the most valuable gifts at the end of the year, such as the gift of Magi. A famous American writer O. Henry creates The Gift of The Magi, a short story of giving gifts on Christmas Eve, which is a common themeRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1271 Words   |  6 PagesThe Gift of the Magi Ashlee Stevens ENG125: Introduction to Literature Amy Sloan September 10, 2012 Ashford University The Gift of the Magi The Gift of the Magi was about sacrificial love. The story explained how important it is to be willing to sacrifice for the one that you love. No matter what the circumstance, if a person can unselfishly give of themselves for another, they can experience life in a whole new way. Many people give what is not important to them andRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi1377 Words   |  6 PagesLITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY THE GIFT OF THE MAGI The Gift of the Magi is one of the most popular short stories by O. Henry, a pen name for William Sydney Porter - a renowned American author. Originally published in 1906, in O. Henry’s second collection of short stories, The Gift of the Magi which displays all of the major O. Henry traits in abundance has given him credit for his genuine talent. It has been retold in various forms since then, especially at Christmas time. The storyRead MoreThe Gift of the Magi Theme Analysis707 Words   |  3 Pageslife; that even those who have fallen to the lowest depths in the social scale would, if they could, get back to the higher life†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Rollins 7-8 ). O`Henry came up with this philosophy when writing his many different, entertaining stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† was initially published in 1906 in O`Henry`s second collection of stories. â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† is a perfect story to illustrate how people do anything for the ones they love. The main characters each sell their most valued possession in orderRead MoreLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi1276 Words   |  6 PagesLiterary Analysis of The Gift of the Magi The twists and turns of the plot as it unfolds within O. Henry s â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† are what simply captivate the reader in such a short amount of pages. The story of Jim and Della on a cold Christmas Eve at the turn of 20th century America is centered around what is remarkably relevant to what many readers have experienced in their own lives; the inevitable stresses, sacrifices, and joys of the holiday season. Strapped for cash and wanting to giveRead More life Essay949 Words   |  4 Pagesnbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was widely known for his short stories. He is often reffered to as the quot;Master of Short Stories.quot; His stories were filled with twist and irony within the plot. quot;Some have called him the American Maupassant because of his so well made surprising endingsquot; (Online). In 1908 critic Henry James Forman wrote that quot;No talent could be more original or more delightful. The combination