In the story, "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, I believe the theme was, sacrificing what you take great pride in is not always the best choice. It is not how much or what the gift is, it is what the meaning behind the gift is.
Della and Jim are a married couple. The author wrote, "There were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took mighty pride in." This proves Della and Jim are married. They are a very poor and selfless couple. Della only had one dollar and eighty-seven cents to buy Jim a Christmas present; and Jim had to sell his watch, to buy Della combs for her hair. I believe they were selfless because they were more worried about buying each other gifts, instead of saving their money or possessions they prized most. They only receive twenty dollars a week, which Jim worked for. This helps conclude that Della is a homemaker and Jim is employed. .
Della was proud of her pretty hair. The author states, "Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty's jewels and gifts." Della also took great pride in her appearance. She always worried about if Jim would still think she was pretty after she cut her hair. Della said, "Please God, make him think I am still pretty." She was worried to death about what Jim would think of her hair. .
Jim took great pride in his watch because it was his father's and grandfather's. When Jim walks in to find that Della has cut her hair, he says, "You've cut off your hair." He wasn't upset, just surprised. He was cautious to what he said. Jim reacted calm when he saw Della's hair so she wouldn't be upset that he was shocked.
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I believe this was the main theme because both Jim and Della sold their most prized possessions because they did not have enough money to buy each other a gift. When they found out each other sold their most prized possessions, they were shocked because they bought each other gifts with the money from their possessions.
