Sacrifice In The Gift Of The Magi

Sacrifice is different for every person. In the gift of the magi by O. Henry, he shows two people who love each other so much that they will sacrifice their favorite things for the other. The gift of the magi is about two people; Della and Jim. It is Christmas Eve and Della wants to give her husband Jim a nice gift but all she has is $1.87. She ends up giving up her prized possession (her hair) to get a chain for his watch, and her husband sold his watch (his prized possession) to get combs for her hair. They end up with a gift that they can’t use. In the story, O. Henry display a character, Della, who is affectionate, devoted, and selfless.
All though the gift of the magi, Della shows she is an affectionate character. Della says ‘’ But nobody
She is always very loyal to him and loves him very much. Della says, “Jim, darling,” she cried, “don’t look at me that way. I had my hair cut off and sold it because I couldn’t have lived through Christmas without giving you a present.’’ (Henry 264) In this quote, Della shows her devotion to her husband. Even though she only had $1.87, she cut her hair to get money to make sure that she got him a nice gift. Also Della says ‘’Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. Her Jim. Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. ‘’ (Henry 261). This quote shows that she is very loyal to him saying that she is buying a present for Jim. Her Jim. She would never love another man like she loves Jim. This quote shows she is very devoted to him because she has been thinking of the perfect gift to give him for months; she is always thinking of
She cuts off her hair and sells it to get a Christmas present for Jim. Her most prized possession at the beginning of the story is her hair, which falls below her knee, but in her selflessness, she sells this in order to buy a proper watch chain for Jim. She doesn’t even care about herself and how much she loved her hair, all she wants is for Jim to be happy. Henry writes “If Jim doesn’t kill me,” she said to herself, “before he takes a second look at me, he’ll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do—oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?”(Henry 263). This quote is saying that she would do anything for Jim, even look like a Coney island school girl, not even thinking about herself.
Throughout the story we have seen many characteristics of Della. The Gift of the magi shows how much two people can love each other that they will sacrifice their most treasured possessions for the other. In the story, O. Henry display a character, Della, who is affectionate, devoted, and selfless. Her affection, devotion, and selflessness helped her to make this huge sacrifice for Jim, her love. This sacrifice is something most people strive for and can’t get. Della shows that if you truly love someone than the sacrifice can be