The Gift of the Magi: An American Tale With French Roots - Essay Sample

Law, Frederick Houk. "The Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Justin Karr, vol. 49, Gale, 2002. Literature Criticism Online

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The author summarizes the life of William Sydney Porter, popularly known as O. Henry, his pen name. William liked the name Henry, so he picked it from a New Orleans newspaper. Law finds the story having a French foundation, but springing from America. According to Law, the most notable effect in Henry's story is surprising. The couple loves each other so much that the happiness of the other comes before their own despite the limited resources. Law also notes that the story is written in an easy yet vivid way, which creates originality. In a few words, Law manages to sufficiently describe Henry's life and connect to his writings, especially The Gift of Magi.

Rea, John A. "The Idea for O. Henry's Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Justin Karr, vol. 49, Gale, 2002. Literature Criticism Online

Rea suggests that there two versions of the story on the origin of the short story. While one suggests that Henry wrote the story, another suggests William Wash did write. However, the source was, Rae agrees that the illustration of a poor couple fits as an illustration of the story. The author also finds a connection between The Gift of Magi and The Last Leaf, another short story that Henry wrote close to sixty years before The Gift of Magi. Both have a poor couple who are bound by their love. Rea is not pleased with Henry's idea of importing a storyline from somewhere else; by he agrees that the family is fundamental.

Shabkhez, Hibah, et al. "The Dynamic of Money and Marriage in Guy de Maupassant's the Necklace and O'Henry's the Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Rebecca Parks, vol. 274, Gale, 2019, pp. 302-305. Literature Criticism Online

Shabkhez notes for many works of fiction, marriage, and family is pivotal. He compares Maupassant's The Necklace and Henry's The Gift of Magi. Shabkhez also notes how the two writers twist the plot to surprise the reader. However, the two authors bring this out differently. While Henry condenses his story to a room and two characters, Maupassant spreads his story over a decade with multiple personalities. While Henry presents a peaceful couple that loves each other, Maupassant displays a family with wrangles that are settled later, all to show the power of family. Loisel is unsatisfied and wants more money, but Della is content with the little that they have, and even goes out of her way to impress her husband. Shabkhez successfully compares the desire to earn more money versus contentment.

Works Cited

Law, Frederick Houk. "The Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Justin Karr, vol. 49, Gale, 2002. Literature Criticism Online,

Rea, John A. "The Idea for O. Henry's Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Justin Karr, vol. 49, Gale, 2002. Literature Criticism Online

Shabkhez, Hibah, et al. "The Dynamic of Money and Marriage in Guy de Maupassant's the Necklace and O'Henry's the Gift of the Magi." Short Story Criticism, edited by Rebecca Parks, vol. 274, Gale, 2019, pp. 302-305. Literature Criticism Online.