One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher until one's cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing implied. Three times Della counted it. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. And the next day would be Christmas.
Analysis
Summary
Della and Jim are a young married couple too poor to buy Christmas gifts. Della sells her beautiful long hair to buy a platinum watch chain for Jim. Jim, meanwhile, sells his treasured pocket watch to buy decorative combs for Della's hair. Each sacrifices their most prized possession for the other, only to find their gifts are now useless - yet their love is the true gift.
Plot Structure
expositionDella counts her meager savings on Christmas Eve.
rising ActionShe makes the painful decision to sell her hair to buy Jim a gift.
climaxJim arrives home and sees Della's short hair; both reveal their gifts.
falling ActionThey realize the irony - each gift requires what the other has sacrificed.
resolutionThe narrator reflects that they are the wisest gift-givers of all.
Themes
Selfless Love
Both characters sacrifice their most treasured possession for each other, demonstrating that true love is measured by what we give, not what we receive.
Wealth vs. Worth
The story contrasts material poverty with spiritual richness, suggesting that the value of a gift lies in the sacrifice behind it.
The Wisdom of the Heart
O. Henry compares the couple to the biblical Magi, arguing that their foolish gifts are actually the wisest of all.
Techniques
Situational Irony
Each gift becomes useless because the recipient has sacrificed exactly what the gift requires.
Jim buys combs for hair that has been cut; Della buys a chain for a watch that has been sold.
Narrator Intrusion
O. Henry's warm, chatty narrator directly addresses the reader, creating intimacy and humor.
"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles, with sniffles predominating."
Biblical Allusion
The title references the Magi who brought gifts to the Christ child, elevating the couple's sacrifice to something sacred.
Discussion Questions
- Why does O. Henry compare Della and Jim to the Magi?
- Is the ending happy or sad? Can it be both?
- How does the opening paragraph establish the couple's financial situation?
- What role does the narrator's voice play in shaping our response to the story?
- How would this story be different if set in modern times with different economic circumstances?