The key to discerning the author’s purpose in writing “The Gift of the Magi” lies in the final paragraph of the story. Those who are familiar with the New Testament of the Bible will know the story of the three wise men who came to the birth of Jesus, bringing him very expensive and valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These men, called the Magi, were scholars or kings who traveled from far away to welcome the baby.

The narrator compares the behavior of Jim and Della Young, whom he ironically calls “foolish children,” to that of the three wise men, pointing out that Jim and Della had to sacrifice their greatest personal treasures in order to give beautiful and valuable gifts to each other. He says of the young couple that “they are the magi” and that they are the wisest givers of gifts everywhere—even wiser than the original Magi.

Jim and Della are wise precisely because they are willing to “unwisely” sacrifice their most precious possessions in order to give a gift to their loved one. Like the biblical Magi, the gifts they give are ultimately symbolic rather than useful. As an infant, Jesus would have had no use for gold, frankincense, or myrrh; the value of the Magi’s gifts therefore lies in the giving itself, a symbolic gesture that demonstrates the wise men’s recognition of Jesus as the messiah. Similarly, Jim and Della have no use for the gifts they receive from one another—a gold watch fob and a set of tortoiseshell hair combs—but this does not undermine the gifts’ value. Rather, it emphasizes the idea that what truly matters is the act of giving, along with the love, selflessness, and sacrifice that Jim and Della’s gifts represent.

What is the author's purpose in writing "The Gift of the Magi" and how effective is he in fulfilling it?

There are many Universal themes at Magi. First, is humbleness, as the couple (who are obviously Victorians) cannot do what the rest of society does when it comes to trying to keep up with the upper crust and be one of them: This couple is doing the exact opposite and understanding their circumstancial position.

Then, there is love, of course, in the shape of sacrifices.

There is also humility- way different than humbleness- which means the capacity of accepting defeat without feeling humilliated.

All these topics are written within the concept of an excessive society where the exact opposite is going on.