High School Literature 2.35 The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry

Understanding Selfless Sacrifice Last week we discussed the life of O. Henry. We gained an understanding of the influence of his life upon his work. We recognized his talent as an observer of the human condition and how he applied this insight to his writing and the development of his characters and plots. Today we will look closely at O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi and hope to gain an appreciation of selfless sacrifice.

The Gift of the Magi One of O. Henry’s most enduring stories of selfless giving is, "The Gift of the Magi." The Gift of the Magi was first published on December 10, 1905 and is a classic example of irony in literature. It is a story of a young married couple and how they deal with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money.   Ultimately, their gifts become a reminder of their unselfish love for each other and are how much they are willing to sacrifice.

Discuss the following The story's setting is at Christmas time making it a time of expectation for gift giving. Why do you think O. Henry chose this time of year? Why is there so much pressure to give gifts? What experiences have you had with gift giving?

Della’s Dilemma It's Christmas Eve, and Della finds herself running out of time to buy Jim a Christmas present. After paying all of the bills, all Della has left is $1.87 to put toward Jim's Christmas present. Desperate to find him the perfect gift, she goes out into the cold December day, looking in shop windows for something she can afford. She wants to buy Jim a chain for his pocket watch, but they're all out of her price range.

Discuss Della’s Sacrifice Rushing home, Della pulls down her beautiful hair and stands in front of the mirror, admiring it and thinking. On a sudden inspiration, she rushes out again and cuts off her hair to sell. She gets $20.00, just enough to buy the platinum chain she'd seen in a shop window for $21.00.

Discuss Jim’s Dilemma Jim's greatest possession is his inherited gold pocket watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's. They young couple live in crowded New York City. They rent a second story flat for eight dollars per month and it is poorly furnished. O. Henry skillfully evokes the shabbiness of the rented room and points out the worn carpet and couch and the almost useless piece of mirror that Della has for making herself up. Jim is feeling terrible because his pay has decreased recently and he wants to do something special for Della for Christmas.

Discuss the confrontation. When Jim comes home from work, he stares at Della, trying to figure out what's different about her, and she admits that she sold her hair to buy his present. Before she can give it to him, however, Jim casually pulls a package out of his overcoat pocket and hands it to her. Inside Della finds a pair of costly decorative hair combs that she'd long admired, but which are of course completely useless now that she's cut off her hair. Hiding her tears, she jumps up and holds out her gift for Jim: the watch-chain. Jim shrugs, flops down onto the old sofa, puts his hands behind his head and tells Della flatly that he sold his watch to buy her combs.

Discuss the meaning of their gifts. Both Jim and Della behaved impulsively sacrificing their greatest earthly treasures . At first, it seems they can't enjoy the gifts that are supposed to make them happy. Jim and Della first think about the material possessions that give pleasure and soon realize they've given each other a greater gift: their selfless love. The lesson they ultimately learn is that their love for each other is worth more than all of the material possessions money can buy.

Define a selfless person? “A selfless person is one who is more concerned about the happiness and well-being of another than about his or her own convenience or comfort, one who is willing to serve another when it is neither sought for nor appreciated, or one who is willing to serve even those whom he or she dislikes. A selfless person displays a willingness to sacrifice, a willingness to purge from his or her mind and heart personal wants, and needs, and feelings. Instead of reaching for and requiring praise and recognition for himself, or gratification of his or her own wants, the selfless person will meet these very human needs for others.” H. Burke Peterson, “Selflessness: A Pattern for Happiness,” Ensign, May 1985, 65

Discuss the following What are the desires of a truly selfless person? Why is sacrifice an important element of selflessness? How does selflessness portray love?

Discuss the following “Selflessness is righteousness. It embraces the true spirit of companionship. It is the very essence of friendship. It is the portrayer of true love and oneness in humanity. Its reward is the freeing of the soul, a nearness to divinity, a worthiness for the companionship of the Spirit. Every requirement that God’s plan for our salvation places upon us is based on the giving of one’s self.” William R. Bradford, “Selfless Service,” Ensign, Nov 1987, 75