illustration of two people, a woman and a man, looking at one another in profile with an ornate hair comb between them

The Gift of the Magi

by O. Henry

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The Gift of the Magi Questions on Pier-glass

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The Gift of the Magi

Della's slenderness aids her in "The Gift of the Magi" by allowing her to see her reflection in the narrow pier-glass mirror. Living in a cheap apartment with a low-quality mirror, Della's thin frame...

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The Gift of the Magi

The pier glass symbolizes Della's relationship with her hair and reflects her willingness to sacrifice it for love. Literally, it prompts her idea to sell her hair for a gift. Metaphorically, it...

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