Topic > The Gift of the Magi: Investigating the Act of Caring

Sometimes it can be difficult to find the perfect gift for the person we truly appreciate and care about. In the story The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry Della is really determined to get the perfect gift for Jim. It's Christmas and she wants to give Jim a present. He searches many stores and even cuts his hair. The character Della in the story The Gift of the Magi is thoughtful because she plans ahead, makes sacrifices, and, above all, because she works hard to find Jim the perfect gift. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first reason Della is thoughtful is because she plans ahead. The text reads: "For months he had saved up as much as he could..." (Page 2.) This shows me that he is really doing his best to get money. He is saving as much as he can and is really working hard for it. She really prepared for the gift. He saved for months, which is a lot. It also states: “Furnished rooms at a cost of $8 per week.” (Page 1.) This shows me that she is thoughtful because she does things for strangers and she does things for Jim. He really works for his money and is doing other people's jobs to get that money. He's doing favors for other people, so he can do Jim a favor. $8 may not seem like a lot, but to Della, it's a lot more than she has. The second reason Della is thoughtful is because she makes sacrifices. The text states: "Will you buy my hair?" Della asked." (Page 3.) This shows me that she is giving something that is truly special to her. He probably didn't want to do it, but he had to if he wanted money. This shows that she is sacrificing her hair even though she doesn't really need it. Later in the story it talks about how Jim doesn't care what Della gives him. Another piece of evidence is, “He had set aside a penny and then another, in his careful purchasing of meat and other food.” This shows me that he is trying to spend his money wisely. Sometimes meat can be expensive, like steak, but she tries her best to avoid spending too much money. My final reason is that he works really hard to find Jim the perfect gift. The text reads: "I couldn't experience Christmas without giving you a gift." This shows me that this gift must be very important to him. If that wasn't the case, then she wouldn't have tried so hard to get him a gift. It further states: "He was going from store to store to find a present for Jim." This shows me that he doesn't just choose the first thing he sees, but continues to look for the perfect one. Also, it's really kind of him, even though he doesn't have much money. A little later in the text, it talks about how Jim sold his watch to Della, but Della gave him a watch without his knowledge. What a coincidence! Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Overall, Della is really caring towards Jim. She doesn't just care about herself, she cares about others too. She received a gift for Jim and not for herself, so she puts others before herself. He put a lot of time and thought into this gift. The character Della in the story The Gift of the Magi is thoughtful because she plans ahead, makes sacrifices and, above all, because she works hard to find Jim the perfect gift.