Themes in Gift of the Magi
O. Henry’s Story Focuses on Universal Themes
William Sydney Porter focuses on the universal themes of love, generosity, wealth, and poverty in his popular short story.
O. Henry was the pen name for William Sydney Porter the prolific writer of nearly 300 short stories. Among his short stories, The Gift of the Magi is possibly the most well-known. Its enduring appeal can be traced to the universal themes of wealth, poverty, and generosity wrapped together by the selfless love of the two main characters, Jim and Della Young.
Wealth and Poverty
Poverty is the main theme in the story. However, Porter uses far-fetched comparisons of those wealthier than the Youngs to underscore his poignant description of their poverty. Porter was an efficient writer; he wasted little time in long descriptions. He was very precise in what he included in his stories in order to create the setting.
Within the first paragraph of the story we know that the Youngs are very poor. Porter launches us into their lives by writing “One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied.”
The reader quickly understands that $1.87 is not a lot of money when the narrator says ‘That was all.’ We get a better understanding of their poverty when we witness Della’s embarrassment. She must haggle for every household purchase to save sixty cents worth of pennies and she is ashamed of the necessity and the poverty it indicates. And, just in case the reader is slow, we are told that such dealings indicate parsimony.
Porter contrasts the poverty of the Youngs to the vast wealth and riches of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He shares with the readers the two small treasures of the household and contrasts the value of these treasured objects to the vast storehouses of wealth that Solomon and the Queen of Sheba have. Yet despite the obvious poverty and meagerness of these treasures, Porter will soon show us that what Jim and Della have is of more value than any priceless treasure locked up in a storehouse.
Generosity
Generosity is a major theme in Gift of the Magi. Clearly, any story that focuses on gift-giving as its major plot-line must deal with the concept of generosity. However, Porter is interested in something deeper than superficial generosity of giving a gift that comes easily. He is interested in generosity born out of a love so deep it transcends reason or wisdom. Love, such as we see between Jim and Della.
Both Jim and Della sell their personal treasure in order to enhance the treasure of the other. Della sells her hair in order to buy a watch chain for Jim’s only valuable inheritance. Jim sells his watch in order to enhance Della’s crowning glory. The narrator of the story comments on their actions by saying “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.”
Love
In the paragraph where we are introduced to Jim, the writer gives us an idea of Della’s exuberant affection for Jim when he says “whenever Mr. James Dillingham Young came home and reached his flat above he was called "Jim" and greatly hugged by Mrs. James Dillingham Young, already introduced to you as Della. Which is all very good.”
When the narrator writes “Which is all very good.” He hints that there must be more in a marriage. And in some small way Jim sums it up when he sees his gift from Della and says “They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.” His statement seems a natural commentary on the uselessness of the gifts since their intended purpose has been ironically removed.
However, Jim’s remark, is also a comment on the value of the gifts. They are too nice not only because of the money they represent but also because of the sacrificial love they represent. Self-sacrifice in the name of love is the wisest gift.
More Information about Gift of the Magi
Biblical Allusions in O. Henry
Allusions to Kings in O. Henry
