Gift of Magi Analysis Essay

The short story â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† uses elements from â€Å"How to Read Literature Like a Professor† in chapter 7 called â€Å"†¦Or the Bible.† The short story includes biblical references concerning the main theme of sacrifice and the gifts from the heart. The story also includes references to people from the Christian bible. Starting off with the title they even use a biblical reference with the â€Å"Magi.† â€Å"The Bible is full of possible titles,† from how to read literature like a professor. The Magi were in the New Testament and they were the wise men from the East who brought gifts to baby Jesus on the first Christmas. Christmas, which is a big part of the story, is also a biblical reference to the Christian religion. â€Å"O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.† Its said in the story that Della’s hair would envy the Queen of Sheba. It also says that Jim’s watch would envy King Solomon. The Queen of Sheba and King Solomon both are famous figures from the Old Testament. Queen of Sheba and King Solomon are both known to be very rich. The comparison of Della’s hair and Jim’s watch to Queen of Sheba and King Solomon shows how important and precious those items are to Della and Jim. The story is also biblically related because Della and Jim give up the one of the most important things to them to buy presents for each other. That shows how much they love each other. This story also represents sacrifice. â€Å"Instead the story resonates with the richness of distant antecedes, with the power of accumulated myth.†