The Gift of the Magi
| "The Gift of the Magi" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by O. Henry | |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | short story |
| Publication | |
| Publication date | 1906 |
"The Gift of the Magi" is a short story written by O. Henry (a pen name for William Sydney Porter), about young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money. As a sentimental story with a moral lesson about gift-giving, it has been a popular one for adaptation, especially for presentation during the Christmas season. The plot and its "twist ending" are well-known, and the story and its lesson are sometimes subverted for the sake of irony or humor. It was allgedly written at Pete's Tavern[1][2] on Irving Place in New York City.
Plot
James [Jim] Dillingham Young and his wife Della are a young couple who are very much in love with each other, but can barely afford their one-room apartment due to their very bad economic situation. For Christmas, Della decides to buy Jim a chain which costs 21 dollars for his prized pocket watch given to him by his father. To raise the funds, she has her long and beautiful hair cut off and sold to make a wig. Meanwhile, Jim decides to sell his watch to buy Della a beautiful set of combs made out of tortoiseshell and jewels for her lovely, knee-length brown hair. Although each is disappointed to find the gift they chose rendered useless, each is pleased with the gift they received, because it represents their love for one another.
The story ends with the narrator comparing the pair's mutually sacrificial gifts of love with those of the Biblical Magi:
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. 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.
References
External links
- "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry
- "The Gift of the Magi" free professional-quality downloadable audio book
- Reading of "The Gift of the Magi" with text and notes (Streaming or downloadable mp3)
- Audio book recording with accompanying text of "The Gift of the Magi"
- Audio book with text at Librivox of "The Gift of the Magi"
- "The Gift of the Magi" study guide, teacher resources, themes, quotes