Nguyn Ngc Ly 8A11

How was love between Della and Jim portrayed in the story?

From past to present, love has always been an endless inspiration for writers to create
literary masterpieces. Some loves requires sacrifice, some strong one wings a couple to
overcome hurdles, and besides, there is an existence of a plain but immense kind of love
among obscure little people in the society. Love between Della and Jim in short story of The
gift of Magi by OHenri is such a love like that.
Firstly, their love is based on their care of each other. This story is set on the day
before Christmas when people are rushed to choose gifts for their dearests. Appearing in the
misery, our Della, not an exception, is counting every single penny left to buy her husband a
present. Her act of flopping down on the coax after fully acknowledged that hardly could
she afford anything to give Jim given the big day is gradually nearing; shows her seriousness
in buying Jim a present. She also spent many a happy hour to planning for the gift.
Obviously, her love for Jim turns her misery into happiness of choosing gift for her husband.
From her care towards Jim, Della clearly penetrates his self-pity each time he looks at his
watch on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of chain. Hence,
Della cuts her hair and sells it to buy Jim a platinum watch chain. Meanwhile, in some other
street corner, Jim is also choosing her a set of tortoise shell combs, which would be perfect
for her beautiful cascade of brown water. Transparently, Jim understood how much she
wants them each time she passes by a Broadway window. From the way OHenri describes
how they choose those gifts, it can be seen that they notice even the smallest thing of each
other.
Besides, readers can realize their sacrifice in exchange for happiness of the other.
They both scarify their most precious gift to please the one they love. Della sells her beautiful
spring of hair in exchange for a platinum watch chain. On Jims side, he sells his precious
watch to buy Della a set of tortoise shell combs. This is an ironic situation since both their
precious properties that match with these gifts has gone, which makes these presents useless,
hence, a waste. However, in term of love value, these gifts are actually perfect as they are the
medicine to strengthen their love. Despite a destitute life, they do not pursuit of their own
happiness, but scarify themselves for the others, which not many regular people can do the
same.
To conclude, Della and Jims love and sacrifice is such a beautiful love songs written
in a pitiful plight or if borrowing words of OHenri himself from the text They are the
Magi their love for each other is the wisest gift, more than glitter things existing in this
life.