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The Magi By O. Henry And The Scarlett Ibis By James Hurst

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Symbolism plays a very important role in all works of literature by giving it a deeper meaning that increases the emotion in the story. “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry and “The Scarlett Ibis” by James Hurst have various symbols weaved into the plot of the story which add to the connotation. The symbols in “The Gift of the Magi” include Della’s hair, Jim’s watch, and the color gold. Della’s hair and Jim’s watch both represent Della and Jim’s love for each other and that they are willing to go to any extent for each other. They would make any sacrifice for each other and as Della even says in the story, “Maybe the hair on my head are numbered… but nobody could ever count my love for you” (O. Henry 206). The author expresses that Della loves Jim to the moon and back. The color gold symbolizes love …show more content…

The color red normally symbolizes love, but in this particular story, it stands for death and hatred. The symbolism can be compared in each of the stories because there is a color in each short story that represents something important. In “The Gift of the Magi” the color is gold and in “The Scarlett Ibis” the color is red. Although, the colors both represent something completely different from each other, the colors still stand for something important to the short story. In regards to that, the stories can be differ from each other in respect to symbolism because all of the symbols in “The Gift of the Magi” represent purity and affection and in “The Scarlett Ibis” most of the symbols represent loss and animosity. In both of the stories the symbols are very effective because they help to emphasize the theme of each short story the writer was trying get across. For example, in “The Gift of the Magi” the author states that Della and Jim both treasure their most valued possessions, but are willing to give them up for each other. This stresses the devotion that they have for each

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