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What Is The Irony In The Gift Of The Magi

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Often, works of literature that associate with a particular holiday only grasp the attention of the reader during the season of the holiday. From time to time, an author writes an extraordinary story that impacts the reader long after the holiday passes. William Sydney Porter, known to his beloved readers as O’Henry, wrote such a masterpiece in 1905, “The Gift of the Magi.” Set during the Christmas season of a young couple, the author utilizes personal experiences in poverty to provide an adequate adversary in the couple’s quest to find an impeccable gift for each other. “The Gift of the Magi” offers an empathetic tale and likeable characters, and more imperatively, a powerful message of sacrificial love. O’Henry spins the tale with much …show more content…

Expressly, Della’s infatuation for her husband motivates her actions, her chief desire “to buy him a gift worthy of his nobility” (Howes 1). Therefore, Della makes a drastic decision and sells her most prized possession-her lengthy hair, described as being so beautiful it would make the Queen of Sheba green with envy. Short haired and nervous, Della prepares her gift, a twenty-dollar watch chain, hoping Jim will focus on the gift instead of her. On the contrary, Jim does not bother with the gift, but informs Della that her outward appearance does not influence his adoration for her. He also reveals his gift; an exquisite set of combs, the funds for such coming from selling a seemingly priceless heirloom, Jim’s watch. In addition to the irony of the situation, the author adds more by calling Jim and Della the Magi, the wisest of all gift-givers. The Magi, the wise men who gave to baby Jesus, could not give “the ability to reduce love to monetary figures.” (Bellman 2). Unlike Jim and Della’s gifts, the Magi’s gifts do not bear the title of irreplaceable, as they do not contain an ounce of the love and sacrifice the combs or chain posses. Though the combs and chains temporarily have no use, the delightful adoration they bring places them on the highest pedestal and proves the message of the tale. O'Henry illustrates the theme with considerable irony, earnestly convincing readers that the young couple, though unwise, hold the title of the

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