麦琪的礼物 （The Gift of the Magi） 中心思想(theme)

Jim and Della Dillingham are a couple who are very much in love with each other, but can barely afford their one-room apartment opposite the elevated train. For Christmas, Della decides to buy Jim a chain for his prized pocket watch given to him by his father. To raise the funds, she has her hair cut off and sold to make a wig. Meanwhile, he decides to sell his watch to buy her a beautiful set of combs for her lovely, knee-length hair.

The moral of the story is that physical possessions, however valuable they may be, are of little value in the grand scheme of things. The true unselfish love that the characters, Jim and Della, share is greater than their possessions.

The husband sells his gold watch in order to buy expensive combs for his wife′s luxurious locks. While the wife sells her hair to the wigmaker in order to buy a chain suitable for her husband′s handsome timepiece. When all is revealed on Christmas Eve, the sweet irony of their dual generosity leaves them