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Examples Of Smiling Faces In The Gift Of The Magi

Decent Essays

Smiling Faces

Have you ever paid attention to how some stories have a “hidden message” that the writer hopes the reader doesn’t find out? I call these “smiling faces” because the messages are not so obvious. In O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi,” the author uses this technique. The story is supposed to demonstrate true love and “wisdom” when Della and Jim, a married couple in poverty, sacrifice their most treasured items in order to buy each other a Christmas present. This is a smiley face! The truth is that Della and Jim are both foolish because despite the fact that they are poor, they trade their most prized possessions for items that neither one of them need, but in the end, both presents are useless anyway.

The story begins with Jim getting a cut in his salary. He no longer has the money to support Della and him. Della is hustling people in order to save money. O. Henry calls it, “pennies saved one and two at a time.” The couple is living in a “furnished, eight dollar a week flat,” and they have a doorbell and mailbox that do not work! The only thing that Della is concerned about though is Jim’s Christmas present which she has only saved one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy– not wise when so many other issues need to be taken care of. …show more content…

The other was Della’s hair.” Della really loves her hair and Jim really loves his watch, so Jim buys Della some combs and Della buys Jim a fob for his watch. The “smiley” here is the fact that O. Henry wants you to believe that they are wise and are doing this out of love when in reality; this puts them in an unwise, financial predicament! The story mentions that Jim needs a new coat and some gloves which Della could have

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