O. Henry, the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), was a master of the American short story. Renowned for his ironic twists, conversational storytelling, and poignant sentimentality, O. Henry’s tales often conclude with an unexpected turn. “The Gift of the Magi” stands as one of his most celebrated works, encapsulating these signature elements within a heartwarming Christmas narrative. But beyond its festive setting, what is the true essence of “The Gift of the Magi,” and what makes it resonate even today?
To fully appreciate our summary and analysis, it’s beneficial to read “The Gift of the Magi” beforehand. You can find the story here.
‘The Gift of the Magi’: A Concise Plot Summary
The story unfolds on Christmas Eve in a humble New York apartment, home to the young, financially strained couple, Jim and Della Dillingham Young. Della is distraught, finding herself with only $1.87 to buy Jim a Christmas present. This meager sum follows months of careful budgeting, highlighting their persistent poverty.
The narrator reveals that despite their financial hardship, Jim and Della possess two treasures they deeply cherish. For Jim, it’s his gold pocket watch, a family heirloom passed down through generations. Della’s pride lies in her magnificent, long, and flowing hair.
Driven by her love for Jim and her desire to give him a worthy gift, Della makes a momentous decision. She visits a hair goods shop and sells her beautiful hair for twenty dollars. With this money in hand, Della embarks on a quest to find the perfect present for Jim. She discovers a platinum watch chain, ideally suited for Jim’s treasured gold watch. The chain costs twenty-one dollars, pushing Della to spend every last cent she has, leaving her with only eighty-seven cents to her name. Returning home, Della, with her newly short hair, diligently curls what remains, eager to look presentable for Jim’s arrival.
Jim enters, and his reaction to Della’s drastically altered appearance is one of stunned silence. Misinterpreting his expression, Della anxiously explains her decision, revealing she sold her hair to buy him a Christmas gift. Jim’s trance breaks, and he embraces Della, handing her his present: exquisite tortoiseshell combs, adorned with jewels, combs she had longingly admired in a shop window, perfect for her once glorious hair. The irony stings – the combs are now useless until Della’s hair regrows. However, Della, still holding her gift for Jim, is relieved she can at least present him with something.
Then comes the final, poignant twist. Jim confesses that he sold his prized gold watch to afford the beautiful combs for Della. Now, Della possesses combs for hair she no longer has, and Jim owns a platinum chain for a watch he has sacrificed.
‘The Gift of the Magi’: An In-depth Analysis
O. Henry’s masterful use of ironic twists is a hallmark of his storytelling, and “The Gift of the Magi” exemplifies this perfectly. The story’s impact lies in the double irony: each character sacrifices their most prized possession to buy a gift that complements the other’s treasure, only to render those gifts mutually useless by their very acts of love.
As the narrator reflects in the story’s concluding paragraph:
“The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house.”
However, O. Henry doesn’t intend for us to mock Jim and Della’s apparent foolishness. Instead, he invites us to celebrate the profound wisdom underlying their sacrifices. The narrator subtly shifts perspective, concluding:
“But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.”
This second “twist” is the true heart of the story. It challenges our initial, perhaps cynical, reaction to the couple’s misfortune. O. Henry uses the comparison to the Magi – the wise men from the East who brought precious gifts to the infant Jesus – to elevate Jim and Della’s actions from seeming folly to profound wisdom.
The story subtly prompts us to consider: what is the definition of “wise” gift-giving? It’s not about practicality or material value, but about the spirit of giving and the depth of love it represents. The title itself, “The Gift of the Magi,” immediately draws a parallel to the biblical story, suggesting a deeper, more spiritual meaning to the couple’s actions.
The wisdom of Jim and Della lies not in the material gifts themselves, but in the immense sacrifice and selfless love that motivated those gifts. In a world often obsessed with material possessions, “The Gift of the Magi” offers a timeless reminder that love and sacrifice are the most precious gifts of all. It transcends the simple adage of ‘it’s the thought that counts,’ delving deeper into the idea that true love is demonstrated through selfless acts, even when those acts lead to personal loss.
The story’s enduring appeal rests on its exploration of these universal themes. It’s not just a Christmas story; it’s a story about love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of gift-giving. O. Henry masterfully uses irony not for comedic effect, but to underscore the profound wisdom found in Jim and Della’s seemingly foolish sacrifices, ultimately revealing the invaluable nature of selfless love.
