Ashford Eng125, Finial Paper
Literary Comparison: The Gift of the Magi and the Necklace
(Your name)
ENG 125
(Instructor’s name)
(Date)
The two literary readings I have chosen to compare is “The Gift of the Magi” and
“The Necklace”. The gift of the Magi captured my interest because of the profound themes of love and sacrifice. A heartfelt story was brought to us through the story “The Gift of the
Magi’ he wrote such a touching short story about a couple’s love.
This couple, Jim and Della, are not rich with worldly possessions, but they are rich in love. Their love fills in for everything that they lack as far as materials possessions. On the other hand, “The Necklace” written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884 is about a poor couple as well. However, Mathilde and Monsieur are not the happiest couple. Mathilde feels as though she needs and deserves more material possessions. She relies on her husband to buy her things and he takes all her mental abuse. Both stories might have similar themes however; the wives’ characters, expressions, and thoughts are all completely different. The themes of these two stories are very similar. “The Gift of the Magi” is about a poor couple who are satisfied with what they have. They do not dream about buying something for themselves but each other. They do not fight but they encourage one another. On the other hand, in “The Necklace” another poor couple has chosen to live in a dream rather than reality. Mathilde dreams of the living in a beautiful home whereas Della does not seem to notice her surroundings. It is the narrator that paints the picture of the sparse surroundings.
While her husband Monsieur seemed to be content with their home.
“When she sat down to dine, before a tablecloth three
Days old, in front of her husband, who lifted the cover of the tureen, declaring with an air of satisfaction, “Ah, the good pot-au-feu
I don’t know anything better than that,” she was thinking
Of delicate repasts, with glittering silver, with
(Your name)
ENG 125
(Instructor’s name)
(Date)
The two literary readings I have chosen to compare is “The Gift of the Magi” and
“The Necklace”. The gift of the Magi captured my interest because of the profound themes of love and sacrifice. A heartfelt story was brought to us through the story “The Gift of the
Magi’ he wrote such a touching short story about a couple’s love.
This couple, Jim and Della, are not rich with worldly possessions, but they are rich in love. Their love fills in for everything that they lack as far as materials possessions. On the other hand, “The Necklace” written by Guy de Maupassant in 1884 is about a poor couple as well. However, Mathilde and Monsieur are not the happiest couple. Mathilde feels as though she needs and deserves more material possessions. She relies on her husband to buy her things and he takes all her mental abuse. Both stories might have similar themes however; the wives’ characters, expressions, and thoughts are all completely different. The themes of these two stories are very similar. “The Gift of the Magi” is about a poor couple who are satisfied with what they have. They do not dream about buying something for themselves but each other. They do not fight but they encourage one another. On the other hand, in “The Necklace” another poor couple has chosen to live in a dream rather than reality. Mathilde dreams of the living in a beautiful home whereas Della does not seem to notice her surroundings. It is the narrator that paints the picture of the sparse surroundings.
While her husband Monsieur seemed to be content with their home.
“When she sat down to dine, before a tablecloth three
Days old, in front of her husband, who lifted the cover of the tureen, declaring with an air of satisfaction, “Ah, the good pot-au-feu
I don’t know anything better than that,” she was thinking
Of delicate repasts, with glittering silver, with
References: Clugston, R. W., (2010). Journey Into Literature. (Ashford University ed). San Diego, CA: Bridgeport Education, Inc http://content.thuzelearning.com/books/AUENG125.10.2/sections/sec8.2#start1 http://content.thuzelearning.com/books.AUWC.12.4/sections/sec7.2#sec7.2 http://content.thuzellearning.com/books/AUENG125.10.2/sections/sec5.4#foot2 -