The Gift of the Magi

"The Gift of the Magi" is an O. Henry short story in which a young couple are very much in love with each other but can barely afford their one-room apartment opposite the elevated train. The wife is always fantasizing about being wealthy, and the husband plays along. For Christmas, she decides to buy him a platinum chain for his prized pocket watch. To raise the funds, she has her hair cut off and sold to make a wig. Meanwhile, he decides to sell his watch to buy her a beautiful set of combs for her lovely, knee-long hair.

Related Topics:
O. Henry - Short story - Christmas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

O. Henry ends the story by clarifying the metaphor between the characters in the story, Della and James (or Jim), and the Biblical Magi.

Related Topics:
O. Henry - Metaphor - Biblical Magi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"The Gift of the Magi" features O. Henry's characteristic twist ending and use of flowery diction.

Related Topics:
O. Henry - Twist ending - Diction

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~