The Greatest Gift
The “Gift of the Magi”, by O. Henry, is a short story that unfolds in an unanticipated and remarkable way that gently tugs the reader in which makes them want to continue reading. The story is about two characters named Della and Jim. For Christmas, Della cuts her hair to sell for money to buy Jim a chain for his watch while Jim sells his watch to buy Della some fancy combs. They both couldn’t use each other's gifts properly by reason of them sacrificing what they loved likewise finding delight in giving - what is foolish in the head, may be wise for the heart.
An example of this is how some may think that Della cutting her greatest possession, her hair, is foolish in the head since their reasoning may be that why would you
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An example of this related to my life is how my mother had a choice: either take care of me, specifically be my mother, but lose a great deal of her opportunities or say, “I’m not their real mother, I don’t have an obligation to raise them.” but notwithstanding, she said, “I love these children; consequently, I only want the best for them. Also, I believe it is in the best interest of the children that they have a mother to raise them up to be kind people in this chaotic world.” Her decision led to several years sacrificed, which I find quite touching the heart; accordingly, I could only try to be the best I can be while remaining grateful nevertheless being the source of her pride. The characters in “The Gift of the Magi” sacrificed something that is important to them to sell it for money to buy the person they love a gift that would be important to …show more content…
The audience was expecting that they give each other presents that could function properly with what they have, moreover, that it would be a happily ever after ending by cause of the author leading us on by having Della take great care and time searching for the perfect gift for Jim. Also, this story is an allusion referring to the bible which holds the story of Jesus being born. This story is an allusion as a result of the reference the story makes to the magi who traveled to give gifts to the newborn baby,
In Joan Chen’s movie “The Sent Down Girl”, there are two gifts, one is a kaleidoscope and the other is an apple, received by the central character: XiuXiu.
O. Henry is a very inspirational person, in “The Gift of the Magi,” he makes the story go a lot deeper than the words on the page, with a little something called symbolism. One thing he really specializes in is symbolism, certainly with adolescence, worriness, and timelessness in this story. Symbolism plays a huge role in the narrative, a role so big that without it, the story would be quite dull. Without symbolism, this story would not have half the meaning it does now, when you dig into the story, you discover how much Della and Jim really love one
People often give up everything that have for others, not because they have a lot to give, but because they know what it feels like to have nothing.
Lots of people have received gift that is not particularly favored. Those people know exactly how Ana and Dori feel. Ana is a character in Erin Fanning’s “The Quinceanera Text”. Dori is a character in Rachel Vail’s story “Good Enough”. Both of these characters received disappointing gifts, but later the girls realized how much these present represent the love the families show towards the young ladies. “Good Enough and “The Quinceanera Text” have similarities and differences such as author's tone and types of characters.
An example of this is how some may think that Della cutting her greatest possession, her hair, is foolish in the head since their reasoning may be that why would you sell something you
In most people’s minds, the word sacrifice equals self-giving actions and explains selflessness. Under certain conditions, people voluntarily choose to sacrifice their benefits or even lives to achieve other goals. Through Meng Zi’s “Fish and Bear’s Paw”, we know that for most of time, people can only choose one between the two significant events, especially when they are sharply contradictory with each other. Everyone has his or her own value system about the world, and what someone considers the most significant may not worth a lot in others’ value system. Which one should people sacrifice for achieving the other is a question that has no consistent answer. Therefore, sometimes people’s sacrifices are not helpful or even hurt who they originally want to save.
Throughout A Christmas Carol, we see exemplary examples that generosity is more about the spirit in which something is given than the item itself, from the schoolmaster's offer of food and wine to a young Scrooge and his adoring young sister Fan, or the humble but merry celebration hosted by Mr. Fezziwig and his wife, or even Fred's offer of assistance to a grieving Bob Cratchit in a future that does not come to pass: as Bob says, “Now, it wasn't for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us,so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful. It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us." Despite this, the glee exhibited by the family acts as a stark contrast to their circumstances, endorsing the notion that generosity involves more than the giving of money and that the price of giving ones love and kindness cannot be quantified.
Making sacrifices and giving up on doing the things one loves the most can be very stressful and difficult. Many people think that they are going to live life without having to take any chances or giving up on things that matter to them. When it comes to one making sure they follow the right path, making sacrifices can be extremely overwhelming and it can lead to a lack of desperation. Sacrifice is an essential part of life and nobody dies without having to make at least one. In Mitch Albom’s fictional novel The Five People You Meet in Heaven, sacrifice is the main theme as the protagonist Eddie Maintenance as some would call him sacrifices his life, aspirations, and career various times throughout the book.
Plato and Socrates both felt that a truth that one holds should be defended and upheld regardless of the personal cost in doing so. In the end Socrates concluded that it was better to die for the truth he believed in than to run from its consequences and be labeled hypocritical. He might use the phrase: Do what’s right, regardless of the price.
These may be materialistic items that are filling a gap in one’s life, or it could be emotional, spiritual feelings that someone is seeking. Materialistic and emotional desires are explored within these two short stories. Motivation is what compels both Mrs. Sommers and Ann to follow through with their plans. Without this drive and passion, individuals are unable to fully commit to their course of action. A Pair of Silk Stockings, represents how motivations can be used in many different ways. First, Mrs. Sommers motivation was to support her family. This shows how she was cautious for her actions and how they could positively affect other people. This made Mrs. Sommers “restless and wakeful with anticipation.” Once her motives changed into a personal desire, is when Mrs. Sommers lost sight in plan. The moment she “not move in the direction of the bargain counter,” was when her motivation began to work against her. Being able to own items that were of higher quality drove Mrs.Sommers to “hastily” spend her money. Although individuals will always face different initiatives when placed in alternative situations. In Ann’s perspective, her desire was not to obtain materialistic items, but more to have a spiritual connection. Ann was searching for something deeper with a greater meaning. When she didn’t find it within her husband, she looked for it in Steven. One of Ann’s motives was
Jim and Della gave gifts that were also the same. They were prized possessions but the gifts they bought was combs for her hair and a chain for his watch. They bought these things to add to the importance of their possessions, but in the end the greatest gift they had was their love for each other. I personally think that if you really love someone a gift or the price of
The story “The Gift of the Magi” tells the story in only a good light. There is a darkness the story does speak upon, Jim and Della were the complete opposite of wise they were imprudent. The characters are poor but still want to get each other gifts for christmas with money they got from selling what they held closest to their heart. Jim regrets buying Della combs because hasn’t got any hair to comb. “But if you’ll open that, you may know what I felt when I came in.” Love can be bad if there are miscommunications and poor decisions. If a relationship has a poor future is there really a relationship in the first place. Jim wants to let the gifts be forgotten as they had poor communication and neither could use there gifts. “let’s put our Christmas gifts away and keep them a while” (Henry para.40) Being in a relationship can cause you to make bad decisions. A relationship should be built upon two pillars respect and knowledge. If a relationship has only respect then it will slowly crumble and fall leaving only the ruins of a somewhat bright
An individual's internal values have the capacity to persuade them into doing what they otherwise wouldn’t be inclined to do. These sacrifices are made in the name of the "Greater Good", when a person's ideals lead them to visualize only what they want to protect, rather than themselves. Often humans are perceived as a selfish species, but as other species do, we also have protective instincts, and when those instincts kick in, we have the capacity to be remarkably self-abnegating. Self-abnegation is a quality that all of us obtain for something, but that something depends entirely on our person's values. Our values are the motivator for sacrificing ourselves. This selfless quality reveals itself when the circumstances
In the short story “The Gift of the Magi”, there is a lovely couple living around the early twentieth century. It is a day before Christmas and Della needs to buy a gift for Jim. But she is low on money. She decides to cut her hair off and sell it. With that money she buys a fob chain for Jims pocket watch. On Christmas Della show Jim her cut hair and he gets disappointed. Not because she looks different but because he bought her hair combs for her long beautiful hair. Little did Della know that Jim sold his pocket watch to...
For instance, it was an extremely sunny day in Ghana, West Africa, and I had gone out to the well to fetch water. It was while carrying the bucket of water on my way back that I noticed my neighbor’s children fighting over the insufficient amount of food that they had to share. My family and I were not rich but from what I saw, I knew that we were better off than other people I knew. I carried the bucket of water inside the house and came back outside to call the two youngest children that were fighting over the last grain of food. I shared my food my food with them and though it was not sufficient for all, feeding the younger ones alone was better than not helping any one of them at all. There was only little that I could possibly do but by sharing, I had helped them in a great way, even if it was just for the time being.