Everywhere they are the wise ones.They are the magi.6
Comparison of gift-givers to important figures related to the Birth of Christ--a focal point of the Christian religion
18 Matching Annotations
- Jan 2026
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drive.google.com drive.google.com
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But let me speak a last word to the wise of these days: Of allwho give gifts, these two were the most wise
Direct contradiction to a previous statement of them being unwise; teaching a moral lesson of material items coveted for their value amongst society vs the priceless value of immaterial things like love
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And now they were hers, but her hair was gone
Irony to be given a valuable gift without the means to use it, and in a way that purchases a gift for another
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Nothing like ahaircut could make me love you any less.
Jim sees past the importance of Della's hair, to the person underneath--a contrast to how Della believed Jim would think her ugly
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Maybe the hairs of my head could be counted,”she said, “but no one could ever count my love for you
Author highlighting how Della's love was greater than her hair (of which the author gives great importance)
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With hershort hair, she looked wonderfully like a schoolbo
Further emphasis on the importance of Della's hair; making her much less than she had been with the hair
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She paid twenty-one dollars for it
Even the meager amount of money she was able to save contributed to a gift Della considers almost as invaluable as Jim's watch, emphasizing Della's sacrifices more
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Because it was so plain and simple, you knewthat it was very valuable. All good things are like this
Further support for Della & Jim's thoughts on their items; the plainness of hair & a simple gold watch bely how they imagine these items to be worthy of a King or Queen
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Give it to me quick,” said Della
The quickness of which Della sells her hair directly contradicts how much she coveted her hair, but when compared to her love for Jim, it becomes just another material thing to her
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brown waterfall
Once again making Della's hair larger than life, giving it an almost immortal appeal
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“Will you buy my hair?” asked Della
The previous statements of Della crying now make sense; her crying was more of mourning than of disappointment for only saving $1.87
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It almost made itselfinto a dress for her
Parallel of her hair as a dress further shows the author's emphasis on the importance of beauty in reference to Della's hair; very nearly making Della a background character to her hair
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anything so valuable
Another item considered priceless; setting the scene for these important items & their significance
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Della knewher hair was more beautiful than any queen’s jewels and gifts.
Considers her hair priceless; another parallel with a Christian bible story--Samuel
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almost worth the honor of belonging to Jim
Della covets her husband, almost to a point of crowning him a king
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Mrs.James Dillingham Young put her arms warmly about him and calledhim “Jim.” You have already met her.
This shortening of name is an endearment, a direct contrast to the suggestion of less importance or lower economic standing to shortening a name
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It should perhaps havebeen “Mr. James D. Young.”
Shortening of name = less importance to people who read the name
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Christmas
Parallel of the "Magi" from the title to the time of the story. Referencing the 3 Magi or noblemen who appeared after Jesus was born, bearing gifts
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