The Gift of Magi
The lack of imagery and metaphor in O. Henry’s short story “The Gift of Magi” make the few Bible allusions stand out. In the last paragraph O. Henry compares Jim and Della to the three wise men that came to give gifts to Jesus on the first Christmas. Also in the exposition of the story there are another two Biblical allusions. Della’s hair is written to be so beautiful that her hair would depreciate The Queen of Sheba’s jewels and gifts. And Jim’s golden watch would have made King Solomon pluck his beard with envy.
Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window someday 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.
What do these Biblical figures all have in common? They are all immensely rich. The three Magi had brought Jesus expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In 1st Kings Chapter 10 the Queen of Sheba gives King Solomon huge gifts of gold, expensive wood and expensive stones. And with God’s help King Solomon was the richest and wisest king of the Bible.
1 Kings 10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
O. Henry creates the great contrast between Jim’s and Della’s poverty and the fabulous riches of these wise Biblical figures. But by doing so he also makes the reader think about what it means to be truly rich and content. Jim and Della are just as rich as The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon because they love each other. They are as wise as the
Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window someday 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.
What do these Biblical figures all have in common? They are all immensely rich. The three Magi had brought Jesus expensive gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In 1st Kings Chapter 10 the Queen of Sheba gives King Solomon huge gifts of gold, expensive wood and expensive stones. And with God’s help King Solomon was the richest and wisest king of the Bible.
1 Kings 10:23 So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom.
O. Henry creates the great contrast between Jim’s and Della’s poverty and the fabulous riches of these wise Biblical figures. But by doing so he also makes the reader think about what it means to be truly rich and content. Jim and Della are just as rich as The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon because they love each other. They are as wise as the