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The Gift of the Magi

Essay by   •  September 7, 2011  •  Essay  •  599 Words (3 Pages)  •  2,160 Views

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<>,one of O.Henry's most famous short fictions, is a simple but moving story. It told us a very beautiful love story. The mistress of the home-Della had such beautiful hair that "if the Queen of Sheba had lived in the flat across the airshaft, she would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gift." But she is often tortured with poverty. It took her several months to save one dollar and eighty-seven cents. But she insisted buying a Christmas present by disposing of her hair. Though she was sad before her hair fell down, "she did it up again nervously and quickly." Though "the brilliant sparkle still in her eyes", for her Jim, she went out to trade off her hair for twenty dollars. "The next tow hours tripped by on rosy wings. She was ransacking the stories for jim's present." Every one is moved by Della's love. When she went home with her present, "her intoxication gave way a little to prudence and reason. She got out her curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work repairing the ravages made by generosity added to love." She even guessed her husband's happy behave, and pray god for her Jim. Such lifesome description bring us a pretty, kind, considerate wife.

To describe the master-Jim, O.henry uses a very special way. When Jim reached home, found her wife's long hair had been cut off, he went awhile at once. But after his wife told him the reason, he wasn't anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror. Instead, he said with humour, " Don't make any mistake about me, Della. I don't think there is anything in the way of haircut or shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less. " what a kind and merciful heart! He is tender and considerate towards his wife. O.henry's description figure a pair affectionate, loyal couple. This two vivid model moved every reader. This story is an anthem of couple like them, a comedy about poor couples who respect and love each other. Love between Jim and Della, can make these couple whose soul were distorted by money feel shame.

The story is permeated with softly fragrant. At first, the narrator romances their poverty. Della suffered the strong desire and poverty, she was so disappointed. She has nothing left to do but "flop down on the shabby little couch and howl", express sorrow for "life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating." Then, writer tell us they thought each other on Christmas Eve, Della disposed of her treasure-her hair to buy a platinum fob chain to match her Jim's watch. Jim disposed his treasure-his gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's to buy a comb to match Della's beautiful hair. O.henry is a great writer, he uses comparison, imagery and exaggeration to describe Della's hair, the more he uses,

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