Outline For The Gift Of The Magi
The Value of Love in “The Gift of the Magi”
I. Introduction.
Introduce thesis: Short story written by O. Henry in which love is more important than any material item and the value of a gift lies in the sacrifice behind it, rather than its material value.
Thesis: The main characters in “The Gift of the Magi” value love over material things.
II. Plot.
A. Della and Jim are a married young couple living in an $8 a week apartment.
1. Della only has one dollar and eighty-seven cents saved to buy the perfect Christmas present for Jim.
2. Jim also wants to buy his wife a Christmas present.
B. Both sell their sentimental possessions to have money to buy a Christmas gift for the other.
1. Della cutoff and sell her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s …show more content…
In this short story, the plot and its unexpected climax are essential to supporting the theme of people going as far as to sell their personal possessions, ignoring how much the possession mean to them in order to show the love for each other. Della’s and Jim’s possessions are valuable, since the narrator of “The Gift of the Magi,” compare their possessions to those treasures of King Solomon and Queen Sheba, suggesting Della’s and Jim’s sentimental possessions are very monetary valuable. Yet, the true meaning of the gift giving is not the gift itself, but the sacrifice behind it, as Della and Jim give up what they prized most to show the love for each …show more content…
However, some readers might argue that Della is the only main character. Della is young, affectionate and selfless. The story is about her finding the perfect Christmas present for her husband Jim. She feels hopeless because she only has $1.87 to buy the gift. Della sells her most prized possession, her long hair, for $20 to buy a gift for Jim. Jim is a quiet young man that loves his wife and sell his most prized possession, his gold pocket watch, to buy a Christmas present for his wife. Madame Sofronie, owner of a hair salon, buys Della’s hair. Her manner contrasts that of Della and Jim since she is only interested in monetary value. Della’s only worry is for Jim to love her just as much with short hair. Jim ensures Della that he loves her and that she still pretty with short hair when he says, “I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less” (“The Gift of the Magi – a Short Story”). At last, Jim is asking Della to put away their gifts for a while, suggesting they will be able to use the gifts later, but for now, Della and Jim characters love each other and value their love more than material things. At the end, Della and Jim lose their most loved sentimental possessions and learn how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other. Both of them realize that their love outweighs their lack of material possessions since they value
I. Introduction.
Introduce thesis: Short story written by O. Henry in which love is more important than any material item and the value of a gift lies in the sacrifice behind it, rather than its material value.
Thesis: The main characters in “The Gift of the Magi” value love over material things.
II. Plot.
A. Della and Jim are a married young couple living in an $8 a week apartment.
1. Della only has one dollar and eighty-seven cents saved to buy the perfect Christmas present for Jim.
2. Jim also wants to buy his wife a Christmas present.
B. Both sell their sentimental possessions to have money to buy a Christmas gift for the other.
1. Della cutoff and sell her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s …show more content…
In this short story, the plot and its unexpected climax are essential to supporting the theme of people going as far as to sell their personal possessions, ignoring how much the possession mean to them in order to show the love for each other. Della’s and Jim’s possessions are valuable, since the narrator of “The Gift of the Magi,” compare their possessions to those treasures of King Solomon and Queen Sheba, suggesting Della’s and Jim’s sentimental possessions are very monetary valuable. Yet, the true meaning of the gift giving is not the gift itself, but the sacrifice behind it, as Della and Jim give up what they prized most to show the love for each …show more content…
However, some readers might argue that Della is the only main character. Della is young, affectionate and selfless. The story is about her finding the perfect Christmas present for her husband Jim. She feels hopeless because she only has $1.87 to buy the gift. Della sells her most prized possession, her long hair, for $20 to buy a gift for Jim. Jim is a quiet young man that loves his wife and sell his most prized possession, his gold pocket watch, to buy a Christmas present for his wife. Madame Sofronie, owner of a hair salon, buys Della’s hair. Her manner contrasts that of Della and Jim since she is only interested in monetary value. Della’s only worry is for Jim to love her just as much with short hair. Jim ensures Della that he loves her and that she still pretty with short hair when he says, “I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less” (“The Gift of the Magi – a Short Story”). At last, Jim is asking Della to put away their gifts for a while, suggesting they will be able to use the gifts later, but for now, Della and Jim characters love each other and value their love more than material things. At the end, Della and Jim lose their most loved sentimental possessions and learn how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other. Both of them realize that their love outweighs their lack of material possessions since they value