The Art of Reciprocity in The Gift by Marcel Maus

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Recommended: Identity as social construct

The Art of Reciprocity

The holidays, that begin promptly after Thanksgiving Day is over, are a time for gift-giving and displaying affection for others through material objects. For my family, Christmas gifts are a way to communicate thoughtfulness and overall love for one another. My identical twin sister, Samantha, shares this sentiment and spent an extended period of time looking for a present that would perfectly convey her sisterly love for me, and the fact that she actually purchased items that I would use and like exemplified her intentions. However, I did not go through this materialistic process this past holiday, and I inadvertently interrupted what Marcel Mauss describes as reciprocation. He claims that giving a gift is not simply giving over an object to another person, but actually giving up part of the ownership and handing over a component of the essence of the person. For me to not give a gift to my sister in return this past Christmas, it essentially broke down the reciprocity of the process and rejected my sister and her offer to share part of herself with me. Mauss and his thoughts explain exactly why my sister was angry with me throughout the holidays, a reason I had yet to grasp until understanding Mauss’s concepts. He also describes the purpose of the gift, which is not an entirely economic action.

Mauss begins his book by explaining the general process and motivations behind giving a gift. There are three parts: simply giving the gift, accepting the gift, and giving a gift in return. At least two people have to participate in this process in order for it to have any meaning. When Samantha, my sister, handed me the carefully wrapped presents on Christmas morning, she successfully began that proc...

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... as well as that of nobility of former times.

Mauss’ central theory of gift-giving revolves around the act of reciprocating, of returning a gift that is meant to display trust. By giving a gift and accepting that gift, a person is withholding part of the givers’ soul. In not returning a gift to my sister, I interrupted the process and virtually destroyed a building block of relationships and culture. In understanding the significance and motivation behind the gifting mechanism in society, I can correctly interpret the response of my sister and know why she was angry with me throughout the holiday season. This can aid me in the future, where next holiday season I will take the time to pick a thoughtful gift and attempt to share a part of myself with my sister and restore the relationship.

Mauss, Marcel. The Gift. New York: Norton, 1990.

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