O. Henry's The Gift Of The Magi

Improved Essays
Well if you are really interested in reading a ‘Christmas’ story that does not involve Santa or are fed up of the usual, boring conventional Christmas tales, then The Gift of the Magi is the perfect pick! It is a story that reinforces the value of selfless giving. Written by O. Henry, an American short story writer born under the name William Sydney Porter, the plot is really absorbing, and is complimented with details throughout which keeps the reader involved till the very last word. This American short story writer has a rich canon and his short stories are well known throughout the world. O. Henry often prefers translating tragedy or misfortune into an emphasized regard and tenderness for the underdog. This perspective on the world around …show more content…
Henry’s best-known stories and according to me is a must read for all ages, especially young adults. The author’s writing style is really appreciable, especially his witticism, clever wordplay, and unexpected twist ending. Although critics have claimed Della and Jim to be foolish lovers and their act is termed as foolish impulsiveness; I personally believe they are realistic, relatable examples of present day love- where lovers are ready to sacrifice their happiness for the other, which keeps the love lively and everlasting. O. Henry maintains a lightness of tone, the attitude of a genial observer, so that the story does not become overburdened with false pathos, and the trick ending appears as natural as the course of true love.
In a nutshell, The Gift Of The Magi is a simple period piece, delicately spun around modern love. With lengthy sentences, old fashioned vocabulary, it talks about the rewards of unselfish, undulating love which as an enduring appeal to the reader. I would give this story a 4.5/5 star rating…..it deserves this for being above the usual mundane stuff that ruins the very idea of love. Plus, you 've gotta love the surprise ending, as is customary with O. Henry 's

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    John in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Many short stories from throughout history contain dynamic characters that may vary in intentions upon analyzation. After digging deeper into the meaning of said characters, the reader may become surprised to discover their first impression may not be the true disposition of the text. Likewise, In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, John can be considered evil or immoral because of the neglect he shows towards the narrator.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The thick feeling of confusion stirred together with overwhelming anxiety and finally topped off with a sprinkle of fear all contribute to test whether one is able to withstand the spice of life strived in adolescence. To Every Thing There Is a Season, by Alistair MacLeod, is a coming-of-age story “seen through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy, who as an adult remembers the way things were back home on the farm on the west coast of Cape Breton” during the Christmas of 1977. Along the lines of the story, the protagonist awakens to a bigger picture of life outside his own small world as he steps his way up from ignorance to knowledge, idealism to realism, and thinking of self to thinking of others. The narrator comes to see himself as a precious…

    • 1317 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    “‘Well then, why don’t you pray?’ She asked trembling with delight suddenly. ‘I don’t want no help,’ he said. ‘I’m doing all right by myself’” (O’Connor 386).…

    • 1439 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    A round character is one that has the rational intentions of a human being within them. It is one that reveals the complexity of human nature and portrays a real image on a human ins Society. A round character expresses conflict within the plot of the story as well as within him or herself. In the story Girl with Bangs, the author Zadie Smith uses the theme of love and the question of what are the factors of falling in love to explore the human nature and condition of need and romanticism. By the use of the characters’ relationships and desires, the story explores human nature of topics of sexuality, sexual orientation, relationships, the way humans interact, and the nature of human instinct.…

    • 742 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Yomna ElShabrawy Block:D Date:Feb.4.2018 Short Story Compare and Contrast Essay The three adolescent protagonist in the stories “Muffin”, “What’s Inside”, and “Fortune Cookie” are facing huge struggles in their life. In order, “Muffin” is about a young girl named Daisy, struggling with bullying at her school.…

    • 937 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The symbolism of The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, is that sacrificing your most valued possessions for the one you love is the greatest kind of humbleness. In this case, Della thinks her lover will not like her anymore since she cut off her hair. Her husband Jim, specifically states, “I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like you any less” (Henry 102). Jim is clearly fine with the way she looks even after a haircut. This shows how much they love each other despite the sacrifices.…

    • 202 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Elisa is a lonely woman leading what seems like a mechanical life, her pride and focus is on her garden of chrysanthemums. They lived in Salinas Valley in the 1930’s where her husband raised cattle and she did nothing more then plant her garden and wonder about life outside of Salinas Valley. Henry, Elisa’s husband thinks like a business man and doesn’t share her glee to the garden. the tinker on the other hand in the process of trying to earn a buck, honeypots her with feign interest in them.…

    • 607 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Many stories throughout literary history resonate with their readers. Some enough to be deemed literary classics. Three stories which resonate with readers from all ages are “Boys” by Rick Moody, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, and “Lust” by Susan Minot. All three stories tell of the coming of age experiences that men and woman have, but do not share the same tone. Two in particular, “Girl” and “Lust” are told from the perspective of characters themselves, and “Boys” is told from the perspective of an individual observing the main characters.…

    • 792 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Della and the Daughter may seem to have a lot of differences on the outside, like one being an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, the Daughter, and one being a natural born American, Della. Even though these characters come from two different places and have two different backgrounds, they have more in common than what meets the eye. Della, from “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, and the Daughter, from the “Daughter of Invention” by Julia Alvarez who’s nickname is Cukita, have many similarities such as both of them being poor and or trying to make a living, they are both passionate about something, and they both give up something to gain something. One way Della and Cukita are similar is in the way that they are both poor and or trying…

    • 733 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Incident Nannie Doss, also known as, “The Giggling Grannie” and “Arsenic Annie” killed 11 people across four states. Doss killed those who were closest to her between the years of 1920 and 1954. She killed four of her husbands, two children, her two sisters, her mother, her mother-in-law, and her grandson. When she would kill her beloved ones, it would look as if they died of natural causes, not from murder. What Doss did was she would poison them by rat poison or she would use arsenic.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Knowledge is a very powerful thing, capable of enabling people to discover deep truths and desires within themselves, but it can also be a dangerous burden on those who are willing to receive it. Knowledge has the power to both disturb and enlighten the people who do not turn a blind eye to it. This truth is the underlying principle behind two exceptional stories on the subject of the the power of knowledge and the evil associated with it. Nathaniel Hawthorne 's classic short story “Young Goodman Brown” and Sandra Day O 'Connor 's work “A Good Man is Hard to Find” each explore a scenario in which an individual who has lived a life in ignorance is suddenly granted knowledge by a mysterious figure of evil. Both stories possess elements of allegory…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Interpreting The Magi

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This story has taught me that sometimes you must give up something in order to gain something in return. The irony in this story is just jaw-dropping. Who would have known it would end the way Henry ended…

    • 549 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It was pure serendipity that Della and Jim both sold their most prized possession to buy a gift that accompanies the others prized possession. Della was created so the author could incorporate situational Irony in his story. Della is the type of person that would give anyone the shirt of her back. She is selfless and generous, she sacrifices her personal wants so the ones she loves can experience happiness. Della from “The Gift of The Magi by O. Henry” prominently exhibits selflessness and generosity.…

    • 337 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Theme Of Irony In O Henry

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages

    O. Henry constantly mentions and describes Jim and Della’s prized possessions. By doing this, the reader can predict that these possessions will become important later in the story. The story continues, and Jim and Della both sell their prized possession to make the other happy. They each bought a gift for the others’ prized possession, but they did not realize that they both had the same idea. Because O. Henry spends so much time describing the importance of these possessions, the reader is heartbroken alongside Jim and Della.…

    • 1462 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry, opens up with a young couple, Jim and Della Dillingham Young. Della has all of $1.87 when the story opens up. Jim is only making $20 a month which is reduced from what he used to make. Used to Jim was making $30 a week, but recently his salary has been cut back to $20 a week. Della, his wife and the hero of this journey is making $8 a week for furnishings.…

    • 395 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays