Student Question
Did Della and Jim lack communication, leading to confusion with their gifts?
Quick answer:
Della and Jim's lack of communication contributed to the surprise and irony of their gift exchange but did not directly cause the mix-up. Despite their limited communication, they shared a deep love and desire to make each other happy. Their silence was partly due to wanting to maintain the element of surprise. Ultimately, their story highlights that the best gifts are love and affection, showing that communication, while important, is not the central theme.
I agree with number 5 in part. I think a lack of communication might be part of the underlying problem, but more communication wouldn't have prevented their gift mix up. True, they were each afraid to express their disappointment and fears to each other. This is common in new couples. They were also trying to make the other happy by pretending to be happy themselves. Still, they wouldn't have told each other what they were getting for Christmas gifts even if they did communicate more. In the end, the realize the best gift is love and affection. Communication is a big part of this, but communication in and of itself isn't the point of the story.
O. Henry's poignant short story begins with Christmas Eve just hours away. Della has long been contemplating what she can give her husband; likewise, Jim has considered the purchase of the bejeweled combs for his wife's lovely hair. They have not communicated their worries and their desires because they do not wish to spoil the surprise of their gift-giving. But, while they have not told each other about the Christmas gifts, they have daily shared their love. For, each wants to give the other something wonderful, something fine and beautiful, something that represents the deep love they have for each other.
When Jim sees Della's hair and Della discovers that Jim no longer has a watch on which to hook his new chain, they are both quiet because they are sadly disappointed. Nevertheless, their strong affection for one another overtakes their melancholy. This is why O. Henry writes that they are "the wisest."
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