Chapter Overview
“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry depicts a young, impoverished couple—Jim and Della—on the eve of Christmas. Each sells what they hold most dear (Jim his gold watch, Della her long hair) to buy the other a gift. The twist: their presents become unusable, yet their love and sacrifice shine through, making them wiser than the Magi. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Important Keywords
- Magi: The wise men who brought gifts to baby Jesus—paralleled in Jim and Della’s wisdom. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Sacrifice: Giving up something valuable for someone else’s happiness.
- Irony: Jim’s gift requires his watch, and Della’s gift needs her hair—both gifts become impractical. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Cosmic Irony: The cruel twist of fate rendering the gifts useless. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Selfless Love: The story’s core theme—acts of love over material gain.
Detailed Notes
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