Jim and Della
Why is O Henry's story titled The Gift of the Magi?Answer:It is a suggestion that some presents are more appropriate then others. That the Magi were perceptive gift givers. Supplementary Material The Magi were the Eastern Princes who brought gifts to the Baby Jesus. They are found only in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1-12).
In titling his short story The Gift of the Magi O Henry was aware that our usual term for The Magi in English is The Three Wise Men.
In the course of his story O Henry several times suggests that Dell and Jim are foolish children: but at the end of the story he makes clear precisely what he means: And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. O Henry is telling us that the wise thing to do is to sacrifice for each other the greatest treasures of our house. He is even suggesting that this is the only true wisdom. The story contains a deep and permanent moral lesson, and also one which is true. (Of course, you don't need to accept it).The true value of a gift lies in the sacrifice involved in it. When Christ was born, 'the Lamb of God' was a gift for the salvation of mankind. The self-sacrifice of the Lamb led the road to salvation.Three wise men from the East visited the babe in the manger and they brought gifts for the child.In O. Henry's story, The Gift of the Magi, the young couple, Jim and Della sacrificed their most treasured possessions to buy gifts for each other. Della sold away her beautiful, cascading hair to buy a platinum fob chain of rare distinction for her husband's gold watch. Jim too parted with his most favorite watch to buy expensive combs of tortoise shells for his wife's
In titling his short story The Gift of the Magi O Henry was aware that our usual term for The Magi in English is The Three Wise Men.
In the course of his story O Henry several times suggests that Dell and Jim are foolish children: but at the end of the story he makes clear precisely what he means: And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. O Henry is telling us that the wise thing to do is to sacrifice for each other the greatest treasures of our house. He is even suggesting that this is the only true wisdom. The story contains a deep and permanent moral lesson, and also one which is true. (Of course, you don't need to accept it).The true value of a gift lies in the sacrifice involved in it. When Christ was born, 'the Lamb of God' was a gift for the salvation of mankind. The self-sacrifice of the Lamb led the road to salvation.Three wise men from the East visited the babe in the manger and they brought gifts for the child.In O. Henry's story, The Gift of the Magi, the young couple, Jim and Della sacrificed their most treasured possessions to buy gifts for each other. Della sold away her beautiful, cascading hair to buy a platinum fob chain of rare distinction for her husband's gold watch. Jim too parted with his most favorite watch to buy expensive combs of tortoise shells for his wife's