Analysis of O'Henry's Short Story, The Gift of the
Magi
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: Analysis of O'Henry's Short Story, The Gift of the Magi
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
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O’Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi”
O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of the Magi,” is about a couple who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the
greatest treasures of their house. The story takes place on Christmas Eve in a furnished apartment at eight dollars
a week. I feel that the narrator mocks Jim and Della for being poor. “It did not beggar description, but it certainly
had that word on the lookout for the mendicancy squad.” (O. Henry 165). Della and Jim’s income shrunk from
thirty dollars a week to twenty dollars a week causing them a great deal of financial problems. They both are
troubled that Christmas is tomorrow and they cannot afford to buy each other a nice gift. Jim’s gold watch and
Della’s hair play an important role in the story.
Mrs. James Dillingham Young, also known as “Della” in this short story. Della is in her early twenties and is married
to Mr. James Dillingham Young known as “Jim.” Della is very thin and seems to move around in a fast paste. “Her
hair reached below her knees and made itself almost a garment for her.” (O.Henry 166). Della takes a lot of pride
in her hair. “Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the
window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.” (O.Henry 166). Della wanted to buy Jim
an expensive gift for Christmas. “Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable
man and the butcher until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing
implied.” (O.Henry 165).
By Christmas she had saved up one dollar and eighty-seven cents. She was so distraught about only having one
dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy a...