Question

Think and answer on your own in a few sentences, in your notebook.

At the end of the story, O Henry remarks that of all who give gifts, Della and Jim were the wisest. Think and explain this paradoxical remark.

Answer 1

Jim and Della were initially foolish enough to believe that they needed to give material gifts in order to show their love for one another and that they had to sacrifice their most precious possessions to do so. However, they were also wise enough to know later that unselfish love is the greatest of all gifts.