The gift of the Magi

"The gift of the Magi"

The story I've read is written by O. Henry and is entitled "The gift of the Magi". O. Henry is an American writer of XX century. He is a representative of realism, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. A twist of plot, which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance, is typical of O. Henry's stories. Among his most famous stories are: "The Gift of the Magi", "The Ransom of Red Chief", "The Cop and the Anthem", "A Retrieved Reformation", "The Duplicity of Hargraves".

The story is a 3d person narration with elements of dialogue and full of represented speech. It means that the author is a participant of the story.

The action of the story is set in America. We can understand it on a monetary currency which was the dollar. ( “Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty - seven cents.”) No historical time is given.

It’s a story of a poor couple name Della and Jim. After paying their rented room and grocer they did not have enough money left. Della wants to buy a gold chain that will serve as her Christmas present for Jim’s gold watch. Left with no choice she decided to sell her hair to a woman who makes wig in exchange for 20 dollar money that she can use to buy the present.

When she got home she immediately prepares for their dinner and waits until Jim arrive looking shock that the hair of Della was cut already. Della on the other hand explained why she sold her hair' but Jim told her not to worry because nothing would change his love for her. Jim gave his gift to Della and when she unwrapped it she was surprised to see the set of beautiful combs she long to have for her hair. Not quite when she also remembers her present to Jim and give the gold chain to him but she was surprised because Jim sold his watch to buy her those nice combs present. 

To show how valuable they were for them, the author uses such stylistic device as a simile. (“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. Had King Solomon been the janitor, with all his treasures piled up in the basement, Jim would have pulled out his watch every time he passed, just to see him pluck at his beard from envy.”). The similes the author resorts to make the description far too picturesque and very illustrative. To underline the mood of the main characters, the author uses such epithets as dim eyes, serious sweetness. .

The events primarily take place in the characters' flat. O. Henry describes the apartment where Jim and Delia live. The description is detailed but not to make the reader take pity on the characters, but understand the great sacrifices Delia and Jim made. The capitalization in the first line is used to show how difficult financial situation in the family is ONE DOLLAR AND EIGHTY-SEVEN CENTS. THAT WAS ALL. AND SIXTY CENTS of it was in pennies.

To underline that the flat is cheap and poorly furnished such epithets as shabby couch, beggar description and mendicancy squad are used, but they are happy living there because their feelings are true and they make that flat pleasant and brighter for them.

The events take place just on Christmas Eve, which makes story in some cases mysterious because everyone expects the miracle. And everyone prepares gifts to the close, Jim and Delia did the same in spite of their small income. 

The main characters of this story are Mr. and Mrs. James Dillingham Young. These two poor young but so happy people are described indirectly. 

The metaphor 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 is used to show how strong Della is and that she is ready for everything to buy a worth present to her husband. She is a wise and thrifty woman. The metaphor her eyes were shining brilliantly means that despite all problems and lack of money, she was happy as she loved and was loved. 

She was a beautiful woman and her hair was splendid it's proved by the use of  simile Della's beautiful hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown waters.

The simile curls that made her look wonderfully like a truant schoolboy is used to show that she didn't become to look more wonderful, but she sacrificed her beauty in order to buy the present for her darling. 

Jim, Della's husband, was a very serious and reserved man and it's proved by the use of simile as immovable as a setter. The word stare is used instead of look to underline that he was puzzled and tried to realize the situation quickly but couldn't "He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face". 

The main characters are very sincere, generous and kind-hearted. Their love is ready for everything and due to their wisdom they are compared to Magi.

The speech of the characters is full of colloquial words (ain`t I, dandy). The author's aim here is to make the story true to life and easy for understanding

The mood of the story is sad and disappointed; it is proved by the repetition of grey - a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard. From the color symbolism I got to know that "Gray can stifle and depress energy but it is also the stable base from which the new and positive can come". It means that in spite of all difficulties, miracle will come.

The title of the story is symbolic. According to the story, the magi were wise people. The gifts the magi gave to Jesus are wise too. These gifts must have been the smartest, best gifts anyone could have chosen. And according to the narrator, that makes the two characters in this story – Jim and Della – just like the magi: they gave each other the wisest gifts of all.

 The major theme of the story is the endless love and the sacrifice, as the main characters sacrifice their precious things for one another. Another theme of the story is wealth and poverty: while financially poor, Della and Jim prove to be emotionally rich. The love they have for each other overshadows their poverty.

The author's message is to show that the best gift is that which is most sincere and comes from the bottom of the heart instead of some luxurious gifts which are presented without any feelings.

In conclusion I'd like to say that the story is really interesting and exciting. It's a good example what the true love is. The author's style of writing makes this story true to life and the reader goes through all the actions with the main characters.