How Is Della Presented In The Gift Of The Magi

Courageous is a quality portrayed by these three incidents throughout the story. One, the Barnett store in Strawberry, two when cassie beat up Lillian Jean, and three, when Cassie led her younger siblings by herself to reach their home. These three incidents show that courageous is a trait that well describes Cassie. This first incident that shows Cassie’s courage takes

In "The Gift of Magi," Della and Jim sacrifice their prized possessions for each other and for love. Irony is represented in this story when Della and Jim both get each other gifts that mean a lot to each other. However, what they did not realize is that when Della cut her hair to to buy Jim a chain for his watch, she was unaware that Jim was going to sell his watch to buy her combs for her hair. The irony of their gift exchange is monumental as their unconditional love for one another took over for their own personal possession. Jim exclaims, “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. But if you'll unwrap that package you may see why you had me going a while at first." The magi which are described as wise men also signifies irony because Della and Jim's presents were more than wise. They represented that a gift does not need to be expensive to have value. A gift can be more meaningful just by the thought.

The main character or narrator in the Cathedral was not only jealous of the relationship between his wife and her friend (the blind man); moreover, he had not seen him in person and did not appreciate the idea that he was actually spending the night at their house. However, after the narrator’s encounter with Robert, he perceives that he was not what he expected him to be; instead, he was gentle and friendly. On the other hand, the main character or narrator in everyday use was outspoken and straightforward, explaining about her surroundings and what had transpired in her life. From harsh labor to the different circumstances, she had faced in her lifetime; she also talks about her daughters who had different personalities.

It was one week from Della's 30th birthday and Jim didn't have enough money to

Jim and Della perform an act of selfless love by their willingness to give something that held great value to them in order to get special presents for each other on Christmas. They do all of this out of love for the other. However, you will see that these gives prove to end up having no use in the end but that is not the main point. The main point is that although this ironic situation occurs, they both find joy in the thought that they would do this for each other. This love that they have for each other is far greater value than any gift that could be given. Jim doesn’t overreact or get angry with this conclusion.

Although the primary method Jewett uses to characterize her narrator is through the content of the excerpt, the language used also serves to characterize. By using a word like “wonderful perfection”, Jewett shows that the narrator is a romantic thinker. By using extensive imagery in the opening of the selection, Jewett shows that the narrator is fixated on her physical surroundings, and is excellent at observing and describing

If they get hurt, she won’t help them ease the pain but will rather say something along the lines of, “You need to learn how to deal with pain on your own and not have me babying you your whole life.” Yet in Welch, it is learned that she has severe inner problems. The reader is enraged more and more as he learns how selfish she is. instead of putting food on the table, she’ll use money as she pleases. There is one particular evening where the whole family has gone hungry and trying not to think about food. Brian notices she is disappearing under her blanket and popping back up and chewing with her mouth. Come to find out, she bought a chocolate bar for herself and didn’t want to share it with her starving children. She even has the audacity to come up with a petty excuse: “‘I can’t help it. I’m a sugar addict, just like your father is an alcoholic.’” (174) Rex being an alcoholic doesn’t give you the right to stoop to his level to get your fix of sugar. Her kids are right next to her starving, but she is perfectly fine to eating chocolate. That is extremely pompous and inconsiderate. To make the point even more understandable, Jeannette’s mother wouldn’t sell a ring that could help pay off payments for weeks perhaps even months. She told the kids she would not sell it because

In The Gift of the Magi, by O. Henry (1906), Della is one of two main characters, the other being her beloved husband, Jim. On Christmas Eve, Della has saved very little for a present for Jim when she decides to sell her most prized possession, her long beautiful hair, for more money. After doing this, and buying the perfect gift,

The boy is a good example of courage because he is daring. He is daring because after they hear a noise he stays behind and checks to see what it was in the cabinet. This is courageous because we're the boy was, was abandoned and there was no way to tell if he was safe or not but he still stays and checks behind the cabinet not knowing what he might find. Knowing this, it shows that he was willing to be daring even if there was no way to tell if it was safe or not. Also, the boy is courageous because he was selfless. He helps the little girl getaway even if he does get punished. This is courageous because he helps the little girl get away, so they wouldn't take take her away. Lastly, The boy is courageous because he is thoughtful. He gives the girl a unicorn as an adult.This is courageous because he still remembers this girl and went out of the way to

Strapped for cash and wanting to give her beloved husband the most luxurious gift for Christmas to express her deep passion for him, we are immediately introduced to the initial situation at hand. With only a dollar and some change to spend on Jim, Della is forced into a situation

Additionally, they both bought new things, made compromises and they all gave up valuable things. In “The Gift of the Magi” says, “Della”, said he, “let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep keep them a while. They’re too nice to use now. I sold the watch to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner”

Love is a defining force for Della and Jim too, overshadowing the poor condition of their finances. Jim and Della do not have much. They would most certainly be considered to be in the lower class, living in a little $8 a week flat in the city and going from a sufficient income of $30 a week to a less than adequate $20 a week with Jim in need of a new overcoat and pair of gloves (Henry). Henry articulates how their love for each other transforms their drab house and surroundings and gray circumstances into a warm and inviting refuge called home. “One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all Della had,” not nearly enough to get a gift worthy of her beloved Jim (Henry). She desires nothing but to please him and considers him worthy of something

She went home and pondered on how she was going to get Jim this gift. When she came to the conclusion of selling her hair, she went straight to the hair dresser and asked her how much she would buy her hair for. ““Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand. "Give it to me quick," said Della”1. After cutting her hair off, she went and bought the chain for Jim pocket watch.

An example of direct characterization provided in O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi” appears in the section where the narrator is describing Della’s hair: “Della’s beautiful hair fell about her rippling and shinning like a cascade of brown waters. It reached below her knees and made itself almost a garment for her.” Here, the reader does not need to infer about anything. Della’s hair is described great detail. It (her hair) is wavy, shinning, brown, and extremely long.

Situational irony is another element that is present throughout the short story. Della and her husband both buy each other gifts for Christmas at the end of the story. Ironically, Della and her husband bought each other gifts for what they gave up: Della bought her husband a wrist watch strap and Jim sold his watch to buy Della the combs she wanted for her hair. In the short story, Jim is seen grieving about the fact that she had cut her hair off, “I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on,” (O. Henry 121). The ending is situational irony because the reader was expecting that Della would buy her