The Gift of the Magi

Jeremy Carter

Mrs. DelaTorre

Engligh9cp/ Period 4

23 September 2016

                                  THE GIFT OF THE MAGI

     Have you ever known someone who wasn’t as rich as you financially but was just as rich, if not richer when it came to something else? This has happened many times before. An example is displayed in THE GIFT of THE MAGI. One theme in the GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry is that more money doesn’t make you richer. The theme is developed throughout the story.

     A theme in the short story THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry is more money doesn’t make you richer. For example, the author writes “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.” This shows how poor Della is financially. This demonstrates how Della has been saving for the longest yet doesn’t even have two dollars saved up. Another example that helps displays the theme is when Jim says “I sold my watch to get money to buy your combs. And now I think we should have our dinner.”(Henry#?) Isn’t this quote beautiful? This goes to show how rich Della really is. Her husband sold his most valuable possession to buy his wife something nice. This extremely rare breed of human is hard to find. Therefore Della is richer than most for this reason.

     The theme of THE GIFT OF THE MAGI is developed and refined throughout. For example the author writes “““Will you buy my hair?”” asked Della. “”I buy hair take yer hat off and lets have a sight at the looks of it.”” Down rippled the brown cascade. “”Twenty Dollars,”” said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand. “”Give it to me quick,”” said Della. (Henry#?). Basically the author is showing how far Della would go to make her hubby happy. This demonstrates that Della would alter her appearance for 20 dollars to buy a Christmas present for her partner. The theme is also evident when the author says “He needed a new coat and had nothing to cover his cold hands.” This man deserves a round of applause. This man sold his most valuable possession to buy his wife a gift when he doesn’t even have the basic coat or gloves to protect himself from the cold. There are a lot of rich people that are very selfish and have no one who tries to look out for them .Therefore these two are richer than a lot of millionaires in my book.

     There are many types of ways to be rich. For example you can be rich Physically, mentally, spiritually. You can also be rich in Family, Friends, and kindness. This is the theme of this story having more cash doesn’t make you wealthier. In the end Jim and Della both ended up there most valuable material possession. But after their gift exchange were they richer or poorer ???