20 pages • 40 minutes read
The Gift of the Magi
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Themes
The Value of Gift Giving
Gift giving is at the heart of this Christmas story. The title “The Gift of the Magi” references the first gifts given in the Christmas tradition, which the Magi, commonly referred to as the Three Kings or the Three Wise men, gave to the infant Jesus. The Magi’s gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—were luxurious and priceless. (Frankincense and myrrh are fragrances made from tree sap and at the time valued more than gold.) Since the Magi were kings, they could likely afford to give such fine gifts. At the conclusion of the story, O. Henry writes, “The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men— who brought gifts to the newborn Christ-child. They were the first to give Christmas gifts. Being wise, their gifts were doubtless wise ones” (6). In “The Gift of the Magi,” O. Henry compares the Magi’s gift giving with Jim and Della’s gift giving.
We sense this is Jim and Della’s first Christmas together and their first time buying gifts for each other. Jim and Della each buy expensive gifts, but the main difference between their acts of generosity and the Magi’s is the personal sacrifice Jim and Della had to make. To buy each other gifts, Jim and Della had to sell their prized possession. Selling her hair is a personal sacrifice for Della. The narrator says, “And then she put it up on her head again, nervously and quickly. Once she stopped for a moment and stood still while a tear or two ran down her face” (3). Jim’s watch belonged to his father and grandfather and held both sentimental and actual value. The narrator writes, “If a king had lived in the same house, with all his riches, Jim would have looked at his watch every time they met. Jim knew that no king had anything so valuable” (2-3).
The story implies that gifts are worth more when they require sacrifice. O. Henry writes, “But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise” (6). Jim and Della were wise in their gift giving because they knew what the other one would value, and they went to great lengths to secure the best gift possible for the other.
Gender Roles and Social Status
Della and Jim are young and newly married. Della is a housewife, as was typical of the time. She budgets their money carefully and prepares nightly dinners for her husband. O. Henry alludes to Della’s responsibilities as a housewife when he mentions “her careful buying of meat and other food” (1). O. Henry never states what Jim’s job is, but we get the impression that he works long hours in an office. The narrator says, “Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two—and with a family to take care of!” (4). Recently, his wages were cut, and he and Della struggle to make ends meet.
O. Henry implies that Jim and Della live below their desired social position. Throughout the story, he contrasts their current circumstances with their desired social status. They live in a poorly furnished apartment, but there’s a nameplate outside their door. The narrator says, “When the name was placed there, Mr. James Dillingham Young was being paid $30 a week. Now, when he was being paid only $20 a week, the name seemed too long and important” (2). Della’s clothes are poor quality: “She put on her old brown coat. She put on her old brown hat” (3). Jim’s wardrobe lacks essentials: “He needed a new coat and he had nothing to cover his cold hands” (5). However, Jim and Della dream of a different life, and their two prized possessions are symbols of the lifestyle they desire: “The James Dillingham Youngs were very proud of two things which they owned. One thing was Jim’s gold watch. It had once belonged to his father. And, long ago, it had belonged to his father’s father. The other thing was Della’s hair” (2). Della and Jim’s tight circumstances seem worse to them because they yearn for a more privileged life.
Love and Sacrifice
The story implies that gifts are worth more when they require sacrifice. O. Henry writes, “Each sold the most valuable thing he owned in order to buy a gift for the other” (6). Jim and Della’s gift giving is motivated by their love for each other, and their love is marked by deep sacrifice: “Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks” (4). Both Jim and Della sacrifice their most valuable possession for each other.
Della is nervous that Jim will be mad at her for selling her hair and that he won’t think she’s beautiful anymore. When he sees her for the first time after she cuts her hair, she pleads with him: “Be good to me, because I sold it for you. Maybe the hairs of my head could be counted,’ she said, ‘but no one could ever count my love for you” (5). Jim minimizes the sacrifice he made in selling the gold watch, and he brings the focus back to their relationship, saying, “Let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while. They’re too nice to use now. I sold the watch to get the money to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner” (6).
At the story’s conclusion, the narrator celebrates Jim and Della’s sacrifice: “But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of all who give gifts, these two were the most wise. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are the most wise” (6). Jim and Della were wise, the narrator implies, because they valued their love for each other above all else.
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By O. Henry
