The reason he is shocked to see her without her long hair is that
he also wanted to get a nice Christmas present for Della
. He gives her the present wrapped in paper and Della unwraps it to see that Jim had bought her a set of beautiful combs for her hair.
Why did Jim have an unexpected reaction to his present?
Why did Jim have an unexpected reaction to his present?
He sold his watch to buy Della’s combs. He didn’t like his watch as much as Della thought.
What is Jim’s reaction to Della’s hair?
Della believes that Jim’s reaction means
that he does not like her hair cut, he does not think she is beautiful anymore, and he will no longer love her
. In reality, he was just surprised because it made his present for her worthless.
What did Della say to Jim for cutting off her hair?
Della went to him. “
Jim, my love,” she cried
, “do not look at me that way. I had my hair cut and sold because I could not have lived through Christmas without giving you a gift. … Say ‘Merry Christmas!’
Why does Jim react so strangely when Della tells she has sold her hair?
Why does Jim react so strangely when Della tells him she has sold her hair?
He thinks she looks like a chorus girl. He is upset that she didn’t consult him. He is ashamed of not being an adequate provider
.
What was Della’s reaction to Jim’s gift for her?
Answer:
There was an ecstatic scream of joy
when Della saw Jim’s gift to her. Then immediately, there was a quick change to hysterical tears and wails. She recalled how much she had yearned for them.
Why did Della repeat the line My hair grows so fast to Jim?
Della tells her husband that her hair grows so fast for two reasons, or even possibly for three. She wants to reassure Jim that
his sacrifice of his watch to buy her a set of combs would
not be a misfortune because she will be able to use the combs in a short while when her hair grows back at least a few inches.
What does Jim’s watch symbolize?
In The Gift Of The Magi, the watch symbolizes
heritage, character, and love
. Heritage: Jim’s gold watch has been worn by both his father and grandfather. It is an heirloom watch, passed down to succeeding generations, bound by the ties of family and love.
What does Della’s hair symbolize?
More specifically, however, Della’s hair represents
her beauty and youth
. Her hair reaches down below her knees, meaning that she must have started growing it very young, and the sentimental value it has for her is directly contrasted with Madame Sofronie’s brusque evaluation of the hair’s dollar value.
What did Della finally find for Jim?
When the transaction is done, Della goes shopping in search of the perfect gift. After two hours, she finally finds it –
a platinum fob chain
. Jim’s only valued possession is a gold pocket watch that had been his father’s and his grandfather’s.
Did Della regret selling her hair?
In “The Gift of the Magi” by O Henry,
Della did not regret cutting her hair at all
. By selling it, she was able to buy a Christmas present for her beloved husband and, as she remarks later in the story, her hair would grow back very fast in any case.
What is the biggest clue that Della plans to cut and sell her hair?
Sofronie, Hair Goods of All Kinds
” is a clue that she will cut her hair. Why did Della feel it was important for Jim’s watch to have a nice chain?
How much was Della paid for her hair in today’s money how much would that be?
The woman pays Della
$20
for her hair. The chain costs $21, so she now has enough money.
Should della have chopped off her hair to buy Jim a Christmas gift?
Her hair is not only more beautiful than the jewelry and riches of the Queen of Sheba, but it is also very long. Della spent a lot of time cultivating and caring for her hair. To cut it off for
$20.00
is, therefore, a great sacrifice. Not only that, but Della is then self-conscious about her new look.
What is ironic about Jim’s gift to Della?
How is Jim’s gift to Della ironic?
Della gave up her prized possession, her long hair, to buy a fob chain for Jim’s watch
. Jim gave up his prized possession, his gold watch, to buy combs for Della’s hair. NEITHER ONE OF THEM CAN USE THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
What was Jim’s most prized possession?
On the face of it, Jim’s most precious possession is
his gold watch
, a valuable heirloom that’s been passed down to him through the generations. This is the watch he pawns to buy a new set of combs for Della.
