It appeared quite a long time ago. Initially, it is associated with the biblical story of the Magi who brought incense as a gift to the newly born Jesus. Seeing a star appearing in the sky, they realized that the savior of mankind had appeared in the world, and they came to worship him.
What a person can sacrifice in order to bring true joy to a loved one is discussed in the story of O. Henry "Gifts of the Magi", a summary of which is given below.
Exposure. Getting to know the characters
Already from the first sentences of the work it becomes clear how hard it is for the married couple Dillingham Jung. They rent an apartment for which they have to pay $8 every week. “Silent poverty” can be seen in the whole setting. does not work. And the slot in the mailbox is so narrow that there is no way a letter could be put in there. And the sign on the door with the name of the owner, which appeared when he earned $ 30, now seemed tarnished. Since the family's income dropped by ten dollars, the couple had to save on everything. But each evening upon returning home, Mr. James was invariably awaited by the joyful voice of his wife and "tender hugs."
Della
The summary of the story "Gifts of the Magi" should be continued with a description of the mistress of the house. On Christmas Eve, she dejectedly counted the money she had saved up over several months, saving wherever she could. She remembered scenes of humiliating bargaining with a grocer, a butcher, a greengrocer for every cent. But the expenses were still very high, so in the end they managed to collect only a dollar and eighty-seven cents. They were to buy a gift for her husband, whom she loved very much.
First, Della threw herself on the couch and burst into tears. However, something had to be done. She went to the window, then suddenly went to the dressing table standing in the wall. Her eyes sparkled and her face turned pale.
The only wealth of the heroes of the story "Gifts of the Magi"
The young woman, going to the mirror, freed her curls from the hairpins ... They scattered over her shoulders and covered her entire figure below the knees. They shone and shimmered, resembling a chestnut waterfall. But Della immediately began to collect them. At that moment, two or three tears rolled down from her eyes. The decision was ripe instantly - after all, she could not leave her dear James without a gift. Moreover, his magnificent watch, inherited from his grandfather and father, needed a chain. It will replace the old leather strap. Then the beloved will be able to proudly take out his watch to see the time.
twenty dollars for a gift
Della quickly dressed and rushed out into the street - this is how the plot of the story "Gifts of the Magi" develops, a summary of which is offered to the reader. She ran up to the second floor of the building, where Madame Sophronie was stationed, buying up her hair. A few minutes - and Della received twenty dollars and went shopping in search of a gift. And after another couple of hours, she hurried home with the remaining eighty-seven cents and the purchased platinum watch chain.
The return of the husband
First of all, Della curled her hair - she hoped that James would not be very upset when he saw her with a new hairstyle, and even more so would not stop loving her. She made coffee, prepared a frying pan for cutlets. Then, clutching the chain in her hand, she crouched closer to the door and waited.
Entered Mr. Dillingham Jung, seeing his wife, froze in an incomprehensible stupor ... Something like this continues O. Henry "Gifts of the Magi". The summary of the story does not allow describing the scene that arose at that moment. One thing is important - James still could not believe that his Della no longer had her luxurious hair.
Gift exchange
Pretty soon his behavior will become clear to the reader. James took out a roll of paper and handed it to his wife. Della unfolded it - and combs appeared before her eyes. The very ones that she had long dreamed of: tortoiseshell, with pebbles around the edges. They matched the color of her hair so well. Involuntarily shed tears and moans of despair help to understand the condition of the woman. And this episode can be called the culmination of the story "Gifts of the Magi". A summary of the conversation that followed between the spouses is as follows. Della tried to convince her husband that her hair would grow back very soon. But she also bought him a magnificent gift. She opened her hand, and the precious metal sparkled on it. But James, seeing the chain, lay down on the couch and smiled. He sold his watch to buy combs. "We'll have to hide our presents for now... they're too good for us," was his reply.
The final
In the final part of the work, O. Henry recalls the biblical story and gives it a very brief summary. The gifts of the Magi, called wise, could always be exchanged if they turned out to be unsuitable. The difference between the story told is that Delly and James were much more generous. These two, without a moment's hesitation, sacrificed the most precious thing in their lives for their loved one. And affectionately calling his heroes “stupid kids from an eight-dollar apartment,” the author notes that they are the wisest.
This is the story of the great love of two ordinary people, described in the story of O. Henry "The Gift of the Magi", a summary of which you have read.
