This document provides a feminist literary analysis of the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry. It identifies two main issues reflected in the story: 1) women were not granted jobs and 2) women felt compelled to impress men. The analysis examines how the female protagonist, Della, is dependent on her husband Jim for financial support and goes to great lengths to please him by selling her hair to buy him a gift. This reflects traditional patriarchal views of women's roles and lack of independence. The images in the story show how social forces at the time impeded women's efforts for equality with men by depriving them of job opportunities and other privileges.

1. Liceo de Cagayan University
College of Education
S.Y. 2015-2016
The Gift of Magi
By O. Henry
A Feminist Approach
Submitted to:
Ignatius Joseph N. Estroga, MA-Eng
Instructor
Submitted by:
Selim, Eden Mae
Mugot, Nathaniel
Saberon, Louella
Aguilar, Lovelle

2. The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry
Feminist Literary Criticism Approach
Feminism is an approach used by critics who try to correct predominantly male-
dominated critical perspective with a feminist consciousness. This type of literary
criticism approach aims to establish equality between the males and females, or
sometimes, female superior to male.
Subject of Criticism:
Mrs Della Dillingham, wife of Mr James ‘Jim’ Dillingham Young
Issues Cited:
1. Women granted with no jobs
The first issue can be extracted from the implications given in the 5th paragraph of the
story where Della waits for Jim to come home and hugs him. Inferred also from the said
paragraph is that Jim’s meagre salary of $20 is what the couple only depends on.
2. Women compelled to impress the men
The second issue is implied since the conflict revolves around it --- the intense desire of
Della to make Jim happy by purchasing something fine, rare, and sterling --- something
just a little bit near to being worthy of the honour of being owned by Jim. In the sense of
physical beauty, the part where Della is worried that Jim wouldn’t like her new short-hair
look also reflects the issue.
Guide Questions
1. How do male and female characters relate to one another?
The female in the story is very dependent to the male character. The manifestation can
be found on the paragraph where Della is very determined to find a solution to her
problem just to please Jim.
Tomorrow would be Christmas Day, and she had only $1.87 with which to buy Jim a
present. She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result.
This relationship became a source of conflict because Della’s actions are limited to
Jim’s happiness. This supports the notion that men have a hold on women’s actions and

3. emotions. Women, as portrayed in the story, become much attached to the men they
love to the point sacrifices are made.
"Will you buy my hair?" asked Della. "I buy hair," said Madame. "Take your hat off and
let's have a sight at the looks of it." Down rippled the brown cascade.
"Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practiced hand. "Give it to me
quick," said Della.
2. Does the literary work affirm traditional views of women?
It affirms the traditional view that women are for domestic chores only. Since the earliest
eras, women are treated as weaklings and believed that they cannot perform the tasks
men do. Very different from today where women are given the chance to prove their
worth in various career areas and compete with men. There are even times that career
women surpass the men in their respective fields.
3. How do the images of women in the story reflect patriarchal social forces that
have impeded women’s efforts to achieve full equality of men?
Lack of privileges impeded the women to do certain things. One privilege that is clearly
deprived is the prerogative of the women to land a job. If only Della has a stable job,
she could have bought Jim a presentable Christmas gift without selling her precious
hair. Also, she could have helped Jim paying their household expenses and not merely
depending on Jim’s $20 a week.