Free Essays,College Free Essays,Free College Essays at Anti Essays

O.Henry was a prolific American short-story writer, a master of surprise endings, who wrote about the life of ordinary people in New York City. A twist of plot, which turns on an ironic or coincidental circumstance, is typical of O. Henry's stories. Of all his stories, “The Gift of the Magi” is the most famous and successful. It is a tale of a young married couple living on the edge of poverty, who found themselves with few resources as Christmas approached. The deep love they share for each other is their major asset, which induced them to willingly tolerate and sacrifice their most rare treasures to buy the exchange gifts that actually did not work properly as they expected. Thus, how much they endeavored to devote to each other was unworthy. Then, O.Henry called them the foolish children; however, he also supposed they were the wisest people or the Magi. Accordingly, we let discuss whether these two characters were the foolish or the Magi.
their gifts were likely not to work as properly and perfectly as they had expected. Neither the watch chain nor the set of beautiful tortoise – shell combs could be used by both of them. Because Jim’s gold watch, which would have looked properly with the platinum chain Dellas bought, had been sold already; and Dellas’ long, brown, beautiful hair, which would have been more shining and well - bred with the set of tortoise – shell combs, had not existed anymore. As the result, all their efforts, and mutual self-sacrifices became useless and unworthy. They did unwisely immolate for each other the greatest belongings of their house. That’s why O.Henry said they were the foolish children.
Nevertheless, although the gifts seemed make readers feel that Jim and Dellas were a little bit foolish for what they tried to sacrifice, the readers admirably witness a very true love of a husband and wife. Dellas and Jim did prove themselves an unselfish love which was not expressed by money but the toleration, sacrifices and...