Similarities Between Hamlet And The Gift Of The Magi
How often is the expression, "That's ironic" used throughout the course of history? It rarely is mentioned when prince charming rescues the damsel in distress and spends happily ever after protecting her from advancing princes. Seldom is this phrase exclaimed when the loafing dog discovers an unattended bologna sandwich and helps itself. No, irony comes into play when the outcome of the story is mind blowing, horrific and earth shattering. When the prince charming swoops in with his "Shakespeare" and "Hamlet" and realizes, the princess has already been carried off into the arms of an Ogre. Upon crossing her path the princess falls sincerely in love with prince charming and desires nothing more than to devote eternity to gazing into his eyes,
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Jim's most prized possession per his wife is his pocket watch, which she often catches him gazing at with pride. Della, on the other hand, has long flowing hair of exponential value, although clearly, she has no idea of how beautiful her hair truly is. Both characters go off to buy a gift for each other, while the intentions of Della are evident, the whereabouts of her husband Jim are unknown. Della has a reputation around town for twisting store keeper's arms to discount sale items to save pennies expectantly sells her hair without argument about twenty dollars and spends almost the entire amount to purchase a chain for Jim's watch. She does not haggle for a discounted price on the chain or an increase in the value of her hair. Odd. Although the explanation of her change in character rests with her desperation of finding Jim the perfect gift, it is ironic. "When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason. She got her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love" (Porter 187). When Jim finally arrives home, they exchange gifts, where the reader finds out he has purchased combs for the hair Della no longer has and she had bought a chain for the watch he no longer had. All because they had both sold their most treasured object to acquisition each other's gift. In essence, rendering the two gifts cancel out each other, adding up to a waste of money. While ironic, love prevails and this story ends with a happily ever
Jim's most prized possession per his wife is his pocket watch, which she often catches him gazing at with pride. Della, on the other hand, has long flowing hair of exponential value, although clearly, she has no idea of how beautiful her hair truly is. Both characters go off to buy a gift for each other, while the intentions of Della are evident, the whereabouts of her husband Jim are unknown. Della has a reputation around town for twisting store keeper's arms to discount sale items to save pennies expectantly sells her hair without argument about twenty dollars and spends almost the entire amount to purchase a chain for Jim's watch. She does not haggle for a discounted price on the chain or an increase in the value of her hair. Odd. Although the explanation of her change in character rests with her desperation of finding Jim the perfect gift, it is ironic. "When Della reached home her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason. She got her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love" (Porter 187). When Jim finally arrives home, they exchange gifts, where the reader finds out he has purchased combs for the hair Della no longer has and she had bought a chain for the watch he no longer had. All because they had both sold their most treasured object to acquisition each other's gift. In essence, rendering the two gifts cancel out each other, adding up to a waste of money. While ironic, love prevails and this story ends with a happily ever