Character Sketch - Gift Of The Magi

Being able to buy a special gift for each other was the most important thing on the minds of Jim and Della that Christmas. Although they lived in near poverty, their relationship grew deeper because they were willing to sacrifice their own pleasures for one another. In fact, the characters in O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" prove that "it is more blessed to give than to receive."

Della clearly receives much pleasure in pleasing her husband. In order to buy Jim a present she had been saving every penny she could for months. However, all her effort only resulted in $1.87. All the happy hours she spent planning something nice for Jim would be wasted if she couldn't afford to buy the platinum watch fob she had her heart set on. It only took a moment to decide to sell the thing she valued most, her hair. It would be worth it to give Jim that which surely had been made for him and no one else. As soon as she saw it, she knew it must be his.

Jim, on the other hand, knew there was one thing that Della had craved and yearned for without any hope of ever possessing Ð'- a set of beautiful combs made of pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims that matched her hair perfectly. In his quiet, serious way he set out to purchase the impossible prize so that he could give Della that which she desired the most. The only way this would be possible was to sell his most precious possession, his watch.

After each had realized what the other had done, they also understood how much they loved one another. Though Jim was surprised when he found that Della had cut her hair, he still wanted her to know that no haircut or shampoo could make him love her any less. His goal of giving would still be satisfied. Della, too, after gratefully accepting the combs she couldn't use, eagerly held out the gift of her generosity added to love.

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