Selfless Love in Literature

There is a plethora of demonstration of selfless love in the realm of literature. In the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, Jim and Della demonstrate selfless love. Jim and Della each unwisely sacrifice their most precious possessions out of love for the other. In the end, their gifts are useless, but of all who give and receive gifts, they are the wisest (Henry 207).

On Christmas eve, Jim and Della show selfless love as they give each other a very special gift. First, Jim and Della each unwisely sacrifice their most precious possessions out of love for the other (Marks 1185). But unfortunately, their gifts are useless. As Jim says satirically, "Let's put our Christmas present away and keep' em a while. They're too nice to use just at present." (Henry 207) The true unselfish love that Jim and Della share, is much greater than their possessions. Perhaps their gifts are useless, and perhaps their sacrifice of precious possessions is unwise, their unselfish love that give from heart is the most wisest gift.

Secondly, the gift of selfless love is greater than any object in the world (Rea 70). For example, as Della says, "Maybe the hairs on my head were numbered, but nobody could ever count my love for you." (Henry 200) She shows her love to Jim is even greater her only possession that is precious enough to make the Queen of Shaba jealous. Clearly, physical possessions have only little value and it's incomparable to the great unselfish love. The unselfish love between Jim and Della, is the greatest thing in the world that can make the hypocritical love that distorted by money feel shame.

Furthermore, Jim and Della have live in poverty through their life, but they still love each other unselfishly, this is very valuable (Rea 68). For instant, as the narrator explains, "Eight dollar a week or a million a year, what is the difference?"(Henry 206) Money does not make any difference to the life, but unselfish love does. Jim and Della are very poor that it's even hard for them to buy a Christmas present for the other. But they are much wiser than those who have money but are unhappy, because money does not bring happiness. Instead, unselfish love brings happiness and warmth to this world. Summarily, Jim and Della are regardless of their precious possessions and love each other unselfishly in poverty, they are the real magi.

Evidently, Jim and Della demonstrate selfless love throughout the story. They are the wisest because they do not choose little valued possessions, instead they choose the much valuable unselfish love. The gift of the Magi turns out not to be gold, frankincense, or myrrh, not even precious hair-combs or a watch chain, but rather selfless love, the most wonderful and greatest gift in the world.

Works Consulted

Marks, Patrica. "The Gift of the Magi". Critical Survey of Short Fiction. Volume 3
Hackensack, NJ: Salem Press, Inc, 2001. 1184

Potter, William Sydney. "The Goft of the Magi". Elements of Literature. Ed. Kathleen Daniel.
Boston, MA: Holt Rinehart and Winston, 2003. 203-207

Rea, John A. "The Gift of the Magi". Short Stories for Students. Volume 2.
Detroit, MI 48226-4094: Gale Research, 1997. 67-82