Question

How does the bolded text from “Gift of the magi” by O. henry help develop a central idea about love & sacrifice

How does the bolded text from "Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry help develop a central idea about love and sacrifice?
For there lay The Combs-the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jeweled rims- just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone.
But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast,
Jim!"
And then Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!"
Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit.
"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it."

"Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it»
Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled.
"Dell, said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on."

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation:

The bolded text from "Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry helps develop a central idea about love and sacrifice by highlighting the selflessness and willingness of the main characters, Della and Jim, to give up something they cherish for the sake of their partner's happiness.

In the passage, Della longs for a set of combs that she had admired for a long time. They symbolize her desire for beauty and the luxurious life she dreams of. Despite knowing their high cost and her inability to afford them, she sacrifices her most prized possession, her beautiful hair, to purchase the combs for Jim. The bolded text emphasizes her initial disappointment when she realizes that her gift is now useless without her hair. However, she still holds onto the combs, displaying her love for Jim and her willingness to make sacrifices for him.

On the other hand, Jim sells his most valuable possession, his watch, to buy a gift for Della. He plans to give her something she has been longing for, but when he sees her hair, which she has cut to obtain money for his present, he realizes the irony and the futility of his gift. The bolded text showcases Jim's understanding of the situation and his appreciation for Della's sacrifice. Instead of expressing disappointment or anger, he suggests that they put away their gifts for a while, recognizing the sentiment behind their actions.

Through this exchange, the bolded text highlights the theme of love and sacrifice in the story. It portrays the characters' genuine love for each other, their willingness to give up their most cherished possessions, and their ability to find joy in the act of giving rather than the material possessions themselves. The central idea conveyed is that true love involves sacrifice and selflessness, where the value of the gift lies not in its material worth but in the depth of the love behind it.