Final answer:
The primary theme of 'The Gift of the Magi' is 'Sacrifice for love', depicting the story of a young couple who sell their prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, emphasizing their love and mutual sacrifice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary theme of The Gift of the Magi is a. Sacrifice for love. This classic short story by O. Henry focuses on a young married couple who are very much in love with each other but are also very poor. In a desire to buy secret Christmas gifts for one another, they each sell their most prized possession to purchase a gift for the other. The wife sells her beautiful hair to buy a platinum fob chain for her husband's heirloom watch, and the husband sells his watch to buy combs for his wife's hair. This twist at the end of the story highlights the irony but also underscores the immense love they hold for each other, as they each sacrificed their dearest belongings.