The Gift of the Magi

Gift giving is at the heart of the story. O. Henry wrote “The Gift of the Magi” as a Christmas story, and the title references the first gifts given in the Christmas tradition. The Magi were three kings who traveled to see Jesus shortly after his birth. The kings brought priceless gifts with them: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. O. Henry juxtaposes the Magi’s gifts with the gifts that Della and Jim give each other for Christmas. Even though they cannot afford to buy each other nice things, they make extraordinary sacrifices to do so. The weight of the sacrifice highlights their love for each other and adds value to the gifts they give. At the heart of the story, however, is a sense of irony. The gifts they buy each other (a hair comb and a watch chain) are useless because they each sold their most valued possession.

From the beginning of the story, O. Henry highlights Jim and Della’s poverty and isolation. With the descriptions of their small apartment and tight budget, he emphasizes that there isn’t any money left to buy Christmas presents for each other, writing, “One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. She had put it aside, one cent and then another and then another, in her careful buying of meat and other food” (1). The narrative suggests that Della and Jim’s financial situation has recently worsened. 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). Readers also sense that Della and Jim haven’t been married long. Their youth and desire to buy each other Christmas presents despite their tight finances indicate a new relationship. Additionally, Jim and Della seem isolated from society. There is no mention of family members, and they eat Christmas Eve dinner alone.

Despite their poverty, social status is important to Jim and Della. Even though they live in an inexpensive apartment, there’s a nameplate outside of their door that reads: Mr. James Dillingham Young. Della and Jim have two prized possessions that they feel elevate their status: Della’s hair and Jim’s watch. These possessions give them a sense of belonging in a cold society that they are otherwise outside of. The narrator says:

If a queen had lived in the rooms near theirs, Della would have washed and dried her hair where the queen could see it. Della knew her hair was more beautiful than any queen’s jewels and gifts. 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 value they place on these possessions is outweighed only by their love for each other.

The conclusion of the story signals a deepening maturity for both characters. Because Della sold her hair to buy Jim’s watch chain, the hair combs he bought her are useless. Because Jim sold his watch to buy Della’s hair combs, the chain she bought him is useless. However, instead of the characters lamenting the loss of their prized possessions or the uselessness of the gifts, Jim smiles and shifts the story’s focus away from the gifts to the dinner that Della prepared. He says, “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).