the gift of the magi麦琪的礼物

O. Henry 's short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings.
His best known short stories consisted of ： “The Cop and the Anthem”, “The Gift of the Magi ”, “The Last Leave” et al.
The gift of the Magi
《麦琪的礼物》
O. Henபைடு நூலகம்y
The gift of the Magi
O. Henry (1862.9-1910.6)
Real name: William Sydney Porter American writer One of the three most famous masters of short novel
background
It happened in the 1899 ，at that time, O. Henry was worrying about as a prisoner that he was no money to the beloved daughter to buy Christmas gifts when Christmas approaching. He is so painful and finally he remembered he had done before in a magazine , he had received a generous remuneration for writing some essays and stories. Why not try it again - he thought. So he have a hurry to write a novel: “The gift of the Magi." The novel was published, it caused a great sensation in American society and also he received a generous reward to get a favorite Christmas gift for her daughter.
As we know, During this period, the United States was experiencing a severe economic crisis. So the novel also depicted the tragic life of the working people, exposed the brutal nature of the bourgeois monopoly indirectly, accused the persecution of the people by rulers ,reflected the people's dissatisfaction with the rule of the bourgeoisie;
Summary of “The Gift of the Magi”
It happened on a very poor but bliss ful young couple named Jim and Della in the end of 19th century in America . They worked hard but earned little. Life is very hard for them. They have only two possessions between them in which they take pride: Della's beautiful long, flowing hair and Jim's shiny gold watch.
economic crisis
O. Henry In prison for Economic disputes
Jim and Della Work hard but poor yet
No money to buy christmas gift for
daughter
No money to buy christmas gift for
Despite of this, their love to each ot her and the enthusiasm for life didn' t changed at all. When Christmas day was approaching , with only $1.87 in hand, and desperate to find a gift for Jim, Della sold her beautiful hair which she treasured very much for $20 and eventually finds a platium pocket watch fob chain for Jim's watch.
But Jim had already sold that wa tch to buy a combs to Della for wearing in her long hair, not know ing she had cut it off. Although Jim and Della are now left with gifts that neither one can use, they realized how far they are willing to go to show their love for each other, and how priceless their love really is.