What are the parallels between the life of O. Henry and his short story “The Gift of the Magi,” and how have critics analyzed and reacted to the work?

In 1906, O. Henry published “The Gift of the Magi,” a short story centered on the theme of “self sacrifice [as] the highest evidence of love,” (Law 194). The story however, is more complicated than the simple theme leads readers to think. Upon studying the text, along with information on O. Henry’s life, a connection between the two can be found. O. Henry led an extraordinary life, which is clearly reflected, in his short story “The Gift of the Magi.” Critics have considered his work as anecdotal and devoid of complex characters and themes.

Readers must understand O. Henry’s interesting history in order to see the deep connection. O. Henry had a troubled childhood, which made his future very complicated. He was born in Greensboro North Carolina in 1862 with the name William Sydney Porter. His mother died from pneumonia when O. Henry three from pneumonia. Soon after that, O. Henry’s father took him to live with his grand mother (”O. Henry” 308). During his teenage years, he worked in the family’s pharmacy, which did not work out for O. Henry so he moved to Texas and became a bank teller. Working at the bank as a bank teller had gotten him into a lot of trouble. O. Henry had been convicted of embezzlement and was sentenced five years in federal state prison. Determined not to let this get in the way of his success, O. Henry began writing.

O. Henry had a very successful writing career, even though he had so much to overcome. In addition to imprisonment, he never had proper schooling. During his childhood he learned more about “hard knocks and experience,” (Law 194). He used these experiences to create a successful career, with over ten volumes of short stories. Also, he began the magazine, Rolling Stone. Although the magazine failed, O. Henry did not allow his career to be ruined and began to write for the Houston Post, as well as continue his short stories. Overall, his career was very productive, and resulted in many stories, which are still famous today.

In 1906 O. Henry published “The Gift of the Magi.” It is a very interesting story taking place during the holiday season in New York City. The story has two important main characters in the story. Della Young who has beautiful long hair, and James Dillingham Young, or Jim, who is Della’s husband who always wears a gold watch given to him by his father. It was Christmas day and Della wanted to get something nice for Jim. The only profitable object that Jim and Della owned was the gold wristwatch. So Della decides to go to the hair parlor to sell her hair for $20 to get Jim a silver watch chain. When she gets home Della worries and tries to fix herself so that she will still look pretty in front of Jim. So when Jim gets home he is stunned and is clueless why Della cut her hair for him. Well what Della didn’t know until the end was that Jim sold his wristwatch for a set of beautiful combs for Della. So when Della gave Jim the chain she realized he sold the watch for the comb set. They exchange gifts, and forgive each other for their mistakes and live happily ever after. They realize that their sacrifices show their love for each other, which is the best present they could buy each other.