The Gift of Magi
By O. Henry (William Sydney Porter)
O.
Henry is the pen name of famous American story writer William Sydney Porter
How
much did Della save for Christmas?
Della
had saved one dollar and eighty-seven cents for the Christmas. She had done it
by putting aside one cent, then another and then another in her careful buying
of meat and other food. She wanted to buy something worthwhile for her husband
Jim to give him as a Christmas gift.
Why
did Della feel proud in the beauty of her hair?
Della
had beautiful long hair. Her hair was so beautiful that they would make even a
queen envious. They shine like a falling stream of brown water. Della knew that
her hair was more precious than any queen’s jewels and gifts.
Why
did Della sell her hair?
Della
sold her hair to get some money. It was a day before Christmas and she wanted
to buy a gift for her husband. She wanted to buy something worthwhile but she
did not have enough money. Therefore, she decided to sell the only valuable
thing that she had, her hair to buy a gift for her husband.
Why
did Jim sell the gold watch?
Jim
sold his gold watch in order to buy the combs for her wife’s beautiful hair.
She wanted to have those combs but they were so expensive that she did not ever
think of owning them. Jim knew that and he decided to buy those combs for his
wife. Therefore, he had to sell his gold watch in order to buy those combs.
Why
did they want to exchange gifts?
They
wanted to exchange gifts to express their deep love for each other. It was Christmas
time and people exchange gifts on Christmas but they did not want to buy some
ordinary gifts. Both wanted to buy something special and extraordinary for each
other to show their love.
Why
did Della feel sad on losing her hair?
Della
felt sad on losing her hair because it was the most valuable thing she owned. Her
hair was her asset and her unique possession. It was not that she loved her
hair more than her husband or she was feeling any remorse. The only thing that
made her sad was the thought that how Jim would feel about her after she had
lost her hair.
Why
did Jim not welcome her when he stepped in?
Jim
did not welcome her when he stepped in because she appeared strange to him. She
had tried to cover the sad marks of her sacrifice but without her hair she looked
like a schoolboy. Jim appeared surprised and he was trying to understand the
change in her.
What
did he bring out of his coat pocket?
Jim
brought out combs from inside his coat tied in a paper. Della loved those combs
for a long time and wanted to have them but they were too expensive for them to
buy. She had looked at them without the least hope of owning them. Now, Jim had
brought the very combs she loved but she had not her hair to comb.
How
beautiful was the gold watch chain?
She
had searched every shop in the city to find something valuable and suitable for
Jim. Then in a shop, she found this gold watch chain. She immediately knew that
this was it. It was a simply made watch chain whose value was in its rich and
pure material. It was so plain and simple that you know that it was very
valuable. All good things are like that. The watch had the same quietness and
value like Jim.
What
was the wisdom in selling the most valuable things?
Apparently,
there seemed little wisdom in selling the most valuable things to buy a Christmas
present. Both of them sold their most valuable assets and bought things which
were now, of no use to them. But after close analysis, it is clear that both
loved each other more than anything else. Their act of selling their most valuable
asset shows that both can sacrifice for the happiness of each other. They both
sold their valuables just to bring a smile to each other’s face. It indicates
that they value each other more than any material possession. They are epitome
of love and sacrifice.
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