The Magi 'And I Am Offering This Poem'

Through many decisions and actions, “ The Gift of The Magi ” and “ I Am Offering This Poem ” are connected by the themes of money, sacrifice and love. Each of the main characters from these stories went through similar and different problems and were forced to sacrifice things to show their love. Money was also a big role in this. The reader can make an inference about the characters, due to their actions that money to them is no more than just an object. “ ‘before he takes a second look at me, he'll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do--oh! what could I do with a dollar and eighty- seven cents?’ ” O. Henry 22. Here, Della needed money to buy her husband, Jim a gift. In this situation, the money was just an object that was “standing in the way”. “ It’s all I have to give,
and all anyone needs to live” Baca S4. The author tells his significant lover this to show that money is just an object and could not buy anything stronger than his lover for her. Money was seen as an object that was sometimes needed but to get it, required a sacrifice. …show more content…
“ ‘I had my hair cut off and sold because I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present’ ”. In this quote, we see that Della sacrificed her hair to buy Jim a present. Jim did the same but sold his watch. “ ‘ I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.’ ”. The author of “ I Am Offering This Poem” sacrificed his freedom and being able to be with his love. He did this my taking a risk to make a bad choice and ended landing himself in prison. The Character’s sacrifices lead them into a future where they mainly had love