D.Q 1) Regarding O. Henry's ‘The Gift of the Magi’ - In the final paragraph, the narrator tells us
of Della and Jim ―that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.
How do you interpret
‖
this? Based on your reading, what type of claim is being argued (fact, policy, or value)? Give
reasons for your choice.
In “The Gift of the Magi,” Della is determined to give her husband a Christmas gift. In order to
afford the fob for her husband's watch, she sells her long, beautiful hair, only to learn that he has
sold his beloved watch to buy her a set of combs. Jim has sold his watch in order to buy the
combs for Della even as she has sold her hair to buy the watch chain for Jim. Like the Magi,
those wise men who invented the tradition of Christmas giving, both Della and Jim have
unwisely sacrificed the greatest treasures of their house for each other. They did not even care
about the most valuable things for them in their life. Jim has sold his watch in order to buy the
combs for Della even as she has sold her hair to buy the watch chain for Jim. However, of all
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- Summer '14
- The Gift of the Magi, Santa Claus, Giving, Della
