William Sydney Porter adopted the pen name O. Henry after being released from prison on embezzlement charges. The ex-convict soon rose to literary renown with a series of short stories ôoften marked by wry humor and a surprise endingö (If 2004, 1). In The Gift of the Magi, perhaps the most famous of O. HenryÆs short stories, we see both wry humor and one of his biggest surprise endings. The plot revolves around a couple of newlyweds who are poor and facing a dismal Christmas. They both genuinely love each other and would like to spoil one another, but each laments their inability to purchase something nice for the other one. The two possessions Della and Jim do admire are her beautiful, long hair and his gold watch. As Christmas approaches and they realize the $20 per week they subsist on will not allow for any luxurious presents, unbeknownst to each other Della cuts off and sells her hair to acquire a fob chain for JimÆs watch and he sells his watch to buy beautiful combs for DellaÆs hair. However, O. Henry (2004) reminds us of the gift of the magi and maintains, ôOn a last word to the wise of these days let is be said that of all who give gifts these two were wisestö (4).
The setting seems extremely real, primarily because O. Henry was used to extreme poverty and he portrays the setting from the perspective of one who knows such conditions. Della must save a few scant pennies by ôbulldozing the grocer and butcherö while having only her ôshabby little couchö to flop down on when she is emotionally distraught (O. Henry 2004, 1). Her tears fall on a ôworn red carpetö and Jim needs ôa new overcoatö and ôgoes without glovesö in the midst of winter (O. Henry 2004, 2). The setting seems to be in an urban area, perhaps New York, because of the proximity of the grocer, vegetable man, butcher, shops, and barber. The most striking thing about the setting is how its dour furnishings contrast to th
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