One can learn a great deal from “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry about the spirit of gift-giving and what it really is to love someone. Although it is an old story, it is still relevant to readers in today’s society because the theme that it portrays is universally timeless. The author uses rhetorical devices such as symbolism and order to set up the reader to properly interpret the final theme. Along with these, food is an important factor that the author utilizes in his writing.
“The Gift of the Magi” is a story about a couple, Jim and Della, who are on a quest to find each other special Christmas presents. Jim has a very elegant watch but needs a special strap to go with it. Della has very long, graceful hair, but she has nothing to take care of it with. In the end, they each get each other the gift they want, but only by giving up their most prized possessions. Jim no longer has the watch to put his new expensive strap on, and Della has no use for the set of combs without any hair.
The story mentions how one of the main characters, Della, must bargain down to the penny with “the grocer and the vegetable man and the grocer” in order to save as much as she possibly can. This tells a lot about the economic status of the characters. It also, however, conveys food as a necessity. It implies that, to the characters, food is something they need to survive, but nothing more. That is why Della only purchases the least amount of food that she can get away with while still being able to save a little.
Despite their economic struggles however, they still have meat on special occasions. The story takes place on Christmas Eve, and the author mentions numerous times that chops are (presumably pork) being cooked. This shows that food carries a certain symbolism to people no matter their life situation. People use special foods such as meat to signify a celebration or a feast. So even though Della and Jim were poor and had fallen victim to a cruel irony, they were still able to conjure up a little meat for an event as prestigious as Christmas.
At the end of the story, after Jim and Della figure out that something unfortunate has occurred, they still turn to their food to comfort them. Jim says “now suppose you put the chops on,” as if to say “at least we can still eat.” This shows that they are thankful for the food that they have, and that they view it as blessing rather than take it for granted.
The use of food in this story serves the purpose of making the ending more impactful by adding to the picture of what the lives of the couple were like. It also infers a great deal about society as a whole and their views on food. The idea of food is one that has remained the same over the ages. People eat in order to nourish their bodies, be healthy, and survive. But once in a while food is used as an item for signifying a great celebratory event.
These notions still apply in society today, especially to young adults who are just trying to get by. Most college students view food as a necessity. They eat what they need in order to survive, but do not have the luxury to view food as a privilege. Most have a preset amount of meals that they might decide how to divide up amongst different days depending on their schedules. However, once in a while, on a special occasion such as a date or a night out with friends, students will go out and eat a nice meal at a restaurant. This shows that food has played a similar role in society for a long time, acting as both an instrument of necessity and celebration.
Overall, the author’s use of the idea of food to symbolize the significance of the event and the financial situation strengthens his intended message a great deal. He displays it as a basic necessity, something of great significance, and something that has the power to comfort people when they need it.
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