The Gift of the Magi

O. Henry
William Sydney Porter, better known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American author
who authored poetry and non-fiction in addition to short tales. He was born on September
11, 1862, and died on June 5, 1910 His works include "The Gift of the Magi'', "The
Duplicity of Hargraves", and "The Ransom of Red Chief", as well as the novel Cabbages
and Kings Porter is renowned for his naturalist insights, clever storytelling, and
unexpected conclusions in his stories. The Gift of the Magi is one of O. Henry's most
celebrated works, and, like many of his stories, it blends humour and pathos while
dealing with the lives of middle-class city people with sympathy and understanding.

Answer the following questions in about 50-60 words each.

1. Who were the Youngs, and what were the two possessions that they were proud of?
In the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, the Youngs refer to the main
characters of the story: Della and Jim Young. They are a young married couple who are
living in a modest apartment. The two possessions they are proud of are Della's Beautiful
Hair and Jim's Gold Watch.

1. What had Jim done to give a gift to his wife?

Jim wanted to give a special gift to his wife, Della, for Christmas. To do so, he made a
significant sacrifice. He sold his most prized possession, a gold watch, which has been
passed down through his family for generations to buy combs for Della's long, beautiful
hair.

2. What did Della do with her hair and why?

Della cut off her long, beautiful hair and sold it to Madame Sofronie who makes Hair
Goods of All Kinds, as she decided to make this sacrifice by selling her hair, which was
her most prized possession to afford the gift. She did this to obtain the money needed to
buy a Christmas gift for her husband, Jim, to show her love and appreciation for him,
despite their financial constraints.

3. What was Della's reaction on receiving the gift that Jim got for her?

When Della received the gift that Jim got for her, she was initially shocked and surprised.
She had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's gold watch, and she believed
Jim's reaction upon seeing her hair would be one of disappointment. However, when she
opened the gift that Jim gave her, which was a set of combs for her hair, she realized that
Jim had sold his gold watch to buy the combs. Della's reaction was a mix of joy and
sadness. She was overjoyed by the combs, which were a thoughtful gift, but she was also
deeply saddened by the realization that Jim had given up his prized possession to buy
them.
 Answer the following questions in about 200 words each.

1. How do Jim's and Della's actions symbolise the strength of their love for each other?

Jim's and Della's actions in "The Gift of the Magi" symbolize the strength of their love
for each other in several meaningful ways:

Selflessness: Both Jim and Della demonstrate selflessness by giving up their most
cherished possessions to make the other person happy. Della sells her long, beautiful hair
to buy a gift for Jim, and Jim sells his beloved pocket watch to purchase a gift for Della.
Their actions show that they value each other's happiness above their own.

Sacrifice: Their willingness to sacrifice their most prized possessions underscores the
depth of their love. They are willing to part with items that hold significant sentimental
value to them, highlighting their devotion to each other.

Thoughtfulness: The gifts they choose reflect a deep understanding of each other's desires
and preferences. Jim buys combs for Della's hair, recognizing her love for it, and Della
purchases a chain for Jim's watch, acknowledging how important it is to him. This
thoughtfulness shows how well they know and care for each other.

Mutual realization: When Della receives the combs and Jim sees her short hair, they both
come to a poignant realization about the sacrifices made for love. This moment of mutual
understanding and appreciation underscores the depth of their connection.

Unconditional love: Jim and Della's actions demonstrate that their love is not dependent
on material possessions. They are willing to let go of these possessions because their love
for each other is more valuable to them than any material items. This underscores the
enduring and unconditional nature of their love. In "The Gift of the Magi," their sacrifices
and thoughtful gifts symbolize the enduring strength and depth of their emotional
connection, emphasizing that their love is the most precious gift of all.
 2. Write a note on the different ways in which O. Henry tells his readers about the
financial situation of the couple.

In "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, the author uses several methods to convey the
financial situation of the main characters, Jim and Della Young. These methods include:

​ Direct Statements: O. Henry provides direct statements about the couple's financial
situation. He mentions that they live in a modest apartment, and he describes their income
as "eight dollars a week between them." This straightforward information establishes the
financial challenges they face.

​ Symbolic Language: O. Henry uses symbolic language to represent their financial

difficulties. The description of their apartment as a "shabby little couch" and "dingy
window" gives readers a visual sense of their modest living conditions.

Contrast: O. Henry creates a sharp contrast between the sacrifices they make for each
other and their meager financial resources. For example, he highlights the difference
between Della's beautiful, flowing hair and the small amount of money she receives from
selling it, or the value of Jim's gold watch and the amount he gets from selling it. This
contrast emphasizes the financial disparity.

​ Reference to Low-Paying Jobs: The author indirectly reveals their financial status by
alluding to the type of jobs they have. Jim is described as working as a "comrade to a
dollar a week," which indicates that he holds a low-paying job. This detail suggests that
their financial situation is far from comfortable.

​ Emphasis on Frugality: O. Henry shows their frugal lifestyle, highlighting how they save
every penny to buy Christmas gifts for each other. The fact that Della counts her money
repeatedly and plans her purchases carefully underscores their financial constraints.
 SUMMARY
The story begins the day before Christmas with a young woman named Della sitting at home
counting her savings. The home she lives in with her husband, Jim, is a cheap, furnished rental
apartment. When they first moved in, Jim earned more money, but the couple has fallen on hard
times and now lives in poverty. Della has been putting money aside after buying groceries for
many months. She is sad and anxious because, despite her efforts, she has not saved enough
money. With her savings, she had been hoping to buy Jim something special for Christmas. Della
begins to cry on her couch as she realizes she does not have enough money to buy Jim a
Christmas present.
After she stops crying, Della cleans up her face and looks out the window, lost in thought. She
suddenly sees herself in the dingy mirror on the wall and gets an idea. She lets down her long
brown hair and looks at it briefly. Della’s hair, notable for its beauty, is her prized possession.
She puts on her old coat and hat and visits a shop that buys and sells hair. The shopkeeper,
Madame Sofronie, agrees to cut and buy Della’s hair. Della spends the rest of the day going
around the city, looking for the perfect gift for Jim. His prized possession is a gold pocket watch
passed down through his family. She wants to buy him a nice chain to go with it, something
unique and rare. Eventually, she finds the perfect platinum chain. It costs all the money she got
from selling her hair and her savings. Della goes home feeling very excited to give Jim his
present.
When Della gets home, she tries to style her new haircut best. She worries that Jim will be angry
and no longer think she is pretty. When Jim sees that Della has cut her hair, he gets a strange look
on his face. Not knowing what it means, Della goes to him and quickly explains that she sold her
hair to buy him a Christmas present. In response, Jim hugs her and tells her he loves her no
matter what her hair looks like. He then gives her a Christmas present: a set of jeweled
tortoiseshell combs she had once admired in a shop window. Della loves the present but bursts
into tears when she realizes she cannot use Jim’s thoughtful gift. As Jim comforts her, she
reassures him that her hair will grow back quickly. She then excitedly gives him the platinum
watch chain. Jim laughs and reveals that he sold his prized watch for the combs. The narrator
concludes the story by praising the couple for their selfless gifts of love, calling them even wiser
than the three wise magi who brought gifts to the baby Jesus on the first Christmas Eve.