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The Gift Of The Magi: Themes - Online Term Paper

The Gift Of The Magi: Themes

The Gift of the Magi has many themes that touch the heart. The author expresses those themes in many ways. The two biggest ways that the author expresses the most important themes are through the setting and the characters. Symbolism also takes a big part in this story. In the end irony ties it all together.
For instance, Jim and Della live in a flat with just enough money to get by. The setting leads to the theme of sacrifice for love. You can tell that Jim and Della’s love is unconditional by what they each sacrifice and sell for each other: their most prized possessions. Without the setting one would never know why they needed to sell their most prized possessions.
The theme is ...

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love would not be displayed as strong. Yet, they are very much in love and play a part in expressing the theme.
Again, symbolism gives this story a much deeper plot. The two most treasured possessions are Della’s hair and Jim’s pocket watch. Of course, the two could live without these possessions and they ultimately do. The possessions each symbolize something to each one of the characters. Jim’s watch has sentimental value because it has been passed on for generations. Della’s hair is not only beautiful but also rare and hard to achieve. Therefore, when the two lose those possessions for love it is so dramatically ironic.
Significantly, the setting and characters interact to express that love can be displayed in many ways and that any material item does not affect love. In this day and age this extremely important theme is seen less and less. The author also expresses the art of giving and even gives these wise givers -such as Jim and Della -a name. These very rare and ...

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The Gift Of The Magi: Themes. (2006, January 24). Retrieved January 12, 2026, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Gift-Of-The-Magi-Themes/40140

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 1/24/2006 05:10:18 PM
Category: Book Reports
Type: Free Paper
Words: 400
Pages: 2

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