The Gift of the Magi Group

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sakunthalapremasinghe
sakunthalapr...
Teacher
Middle School

"Of all who gave gifts these two were the wisest " give your idea.

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Posted by sakunthalapremasinghe on Friday October 30, 2009 at 9:53 AM and tagged with the gift of the magi.

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  1. kc4u Teacher
    College - Senior

    eNotes Editor

    This narratorial comment at the end of O' Henry's story The Gift of the Magi refers to the couple, Jim and Della, who exchanged gifts during the Christmas. Della sold her brown cascading hair, her most treasured possession, to buy a platinum fob chain for her husband Jim's gold watch which he felt so proud to possess. Jim too made a similar sacrifice to offer his wife a gift expressive of his love for her. He sold his watch to buy a set of wonderful combs for Della's hair. When Jim returned and saw Della shorn of her beautiful hair, he knew that his gift would be of no use for his wife. Della's gift for Jim would also be of no use .

    The three wise men from the East brought gifts for the babe in the manger, Christ. Like them Jim and Della brought gifts for each other. Their gifts were useless for the time being, and they could appear to be rather foolish to part with their fond possessions for no use. But the narrator/author believes that they were the 'wisest', much wiser than the Magi, for their gifts were prompted by genuine mutual love.

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    Posted by kc4u on Friday October 30, 2009 at 12:00 PM