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In "The Gift of the Magi" O. Henry most likely uses the irony of the couple's gifts to express the theme that

O

expensive gifts are sometimes a mistake.

love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue

material goods usually increase in value over time.

it is best to retain one's most prized possessions

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User Jorge Luis
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Answer:

Love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the story "The Gift of the Magi," O. Henry describes a couple who want to give beautiful Christmas presents to each other, but lack the money to do so. Therefore, they trade their most valuable possessions in order to afford them. However, the items they traded were essential to their presents, making the exchange ineffective and ironic. Nevertheless, O. Henry suggests that despite this, the two lovers are extremely wise, as they value the "right" things in life. This supports the main theme of the story, which is that love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue.

User Ngw
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