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THE GIFT OF MAGI, SYLVESTER DANIEL ANAK AGAN & BRYAN JAP ANAK BIRONG -…
THE GIFT OF MAGI
CHARACTERS
DELLA'S HUSBAND
Loves Della deeply, even if life is financially hard.
Owns a prized possession, a gold watch passed down from his grandfather.
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Sofronie
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A minor character, but pivotal to the story as she facilitates Della’s sacrifice.
DELLA
The protagonist, a young and loving wife.
She has beautiful long hair, which she takes great pride in.
Sacrifices her hair by selling it to buy a gift for her husband, Jim.
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Themes:
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Both Jim and Della give up their most valued possessions to bring happiness to the other. Their love drives them to make personal sacrifices.
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The central irony lies in the fact that both their gifts become useless because of the sacrifices they made. However, this twist enhances the emotional depth of their love and the story's message.
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Although they exchange material gifts, the real value is in their selflessness and devotion, not in the objects themselves. This contrasts the importance of material possessions with the deeper emotional connection between people.
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The couple’s financial hardship plays a crucial role in the story. It highlights the contrast between their wealth of love and their lack of material wealth.
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The narrator compares Jim and Della to the magi, suggesting that their sacrifices, while materially impractical, embody the true spirit of giving.
PLOT
Introduction: Della counts her savings, only $1.87, which she has been accumulating for months to buy her husband Jim a Christmas gift. She is distraught because it's too little to buy anything worthy.
Rising Action: Della decides to sell her prized possession, her long, beautiful hair, to a shop (Mme. Sofronie’s) for $20. With this money, she buys Jim a platinum fob chain for his cherished gold watch.
Climax: Jim returns home and is shocked to see Della with her hair cut short. His reaction worries Della, but soon it is revealed that Jim sold his gold watch to buy Della a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs for her long hair.
Falling Action: Della and Jim realize the irony of their sacrifices. Though the gifts are now unusable, they laugh at the situation and appreciate each other's love.
Resolution: The story concludes with the narrator comparing the couple to the Biblical magi, stating that while their sacrifices may seem foolish, their love and selflessness make them the wisest gift-givers.
SETTING
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Place: A modest, poorly furnished flat in an unnamed American city, rented at $8 per week. The description emphasizes the couple's financial struggles, with references to broken household items like a non-functional mailbox and doorbell.
Atmosphere: The mood is initially melancholic and desperate due to Della’s worry over not being able to afford a good gift. However, it becomes heartwarming and reflective by the end, as the couple’s love for each other shines through their sacrifices.
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