"The Gift of the Magi" Review




Hasil gambar untuk the gift of magi

  • Title: The Gift of the Magi
  • Author: O' Henry
  • Illustrator: PJ Lynch
  • Publisher: Waker Books
  • Publication date: 28 September 2008
  • Type: Pictures Books


Acknowledgment
O' Henry is the pen name of William Sidney Parter. He was born in North Carolina, on September 11, 1862. He started to use his pen name when he was in prison in the middle of 1890s. He was known as a prolific writer and produced 381 short stories which he wrote in his entire life. He was known as a good writer at describing the sorrow and joy of ordinary people, stories written with intelligent words, his short stories were full of playful words, in-depth characterizations, and unexpected endings.
On June 5, 1910, he died because of cirrhosis of the liver, complications of diabetes, and an enlarged heart. after funeral services in New York City, he was buried in the Riverside Cemetery in Asheville, North California

Summary
Mr. James Dillingham Young (Jim) and his wife, Della, are a couple living in a modest flat. They have only two possessions between them in which they take pride: Della's beautiful long flowing hair and it almost touches her knees, and Jim's shiny gold watch which had belonged to his father and grandfather.
On Christmas Eve, with only $1.87 in hand, and desperate to find a gift for Jim, Della sells her hair for $20 to a nearby dresser named Madame Sofronie and eventually finds a platinum pocket watch gold chain for Jim's watch for $21. Satisfied with the perfect gift for Jim, Della runs home and begins to prepare pork chops for dinner. 
Hasil gambar untuk the gift of magi
At 7 o'clock, Della sits at a table near the door, waiting for Jim to come home. Unusually late, Jim walks in and immediately stops short at the sight of Della, who had previously prayed that she was still pretty for Jim. Della then admits to Jim that she sold her hair to buy him a prest. Jim gives Della a present, that is an assortment of combs, useless now that her hair is short. Della then shows Jim the chain she bought for him, to which Jim says he sold his watch to get the money to buy her combs. Although Della and Jim are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realize how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how priceless their love really is.

Intrinsic Element Analysis
  • Theme: Christmas story, love, and irony
  • Setting: A flat and in a city; the weather is cold because it is on Christmas Eve.
  • Plot: progressive plot & admiration plot
  • Character: Jim is prestigious, romantic, love his wife and work hard; Della is the same as Jim, prestigious, romantic, beautiful, and slim; and Sofronie is a big woman, pale skin, and cold expression.
  • PoV: Third person reporter
  • Message: A willingness to sell something that is really they love and priceable for the happiness of someone whom they really love.


Extrinsic Element Analysis
  • Moral value: Della and Jim care for each other deeply, and the story shows their willingness to give anything to each other. Otherwise, there are no instances wherein characters face a moral choice.
  • Social value: Poverty doesn't impede them to make each other happy. And they are still together in grief or joy.
  • Culture value: This story refers to the gifts presented to Jesus while in the manger by the wise men, and O. Henry made the beautiful point that those who will give in love what is most precious to them are true "Magi"; the custom of giving Christmas gift.

Hasil gambar untuk the gift of magiDisadvantages
There is a paradox that is set at the end of the story. This paradox exists between the conflicting concepts of Darwinism and Christianity; unfamiliar things; and has a lot of words.

Advantages
A didactic story which questions the worth and connotations of discovery; and forcing the responder to address the issues associated with physical and wealth.

Conclusion
This short story is very interesting. Although the plot is simple, O Henry wrote this story well. From the beginning until the end, the readers will be invited to feel the concern inner struggles, compassion, love and the sacrifices made by a couple of Dillingham family. Moreover, the readers will be curious about how the ending of the story, especially when it is known that the functions of their Christmas gifts are no longer useful.

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