The Gift of the Magi Characters
D
Della
Protagonist
Deeply loving
Self-sacrificing
Emotional
Soft-hearted
Della is the main character of the story, a young and poor wife whose love for her husband Jim is boundless. To purchase a meaningful gift for him, she sacrifices her most prized possession — her long, beautiful hair. Her emotional devotion and selfless act serve as the heart of the story, symbolizing pure love and sincerity.
J
Jim
Protagonist
Also known as: James Dillingham Young
Calm
Serious
Responsible
Loving
Jim is Della's husband and the other central character of the story. Young and poor, he manages the household on a limited income while loving Della deeply. He sells his most treasured family heirloom, a gold watch, to buy a gift for Della, demonstrating that he values love far above material possessions.
MS
Madame Sofronie
Supporting
Also known as: Mrs. Sofronie
Cold
Emotionless
Business-minded
Transactional
Madame Sofronie is the shopkeeper who buys hair and crafts hair-related items. Della visits her shop to sell her hair for money. She represents a purely commercial worldview and embodies the cold, unforgiving reality of poverty, contrasting sharply with the warmth and emotion of the story's central characters.
QO
Queen of Sheba
Symbolic
Beautiful
Wealthy
Luxurious
Legendary
The Queen of Sheba is a legendary historical figure invoked by O. Henry as a metaphor to illustrate the extraordinary beauty and value of Della's hair. It is suggested that Della's hair would outshine even the queen's jewels and gifts. She functions as a symbol of supreme beauty, wealth, and high status rather than as an active character in the narrative.
KS
King Solomon
Symbolic
Wise
Wealthy
Powerful
Proud
King Solomon is a renowned biblical figure referenced by O. Henry to highlight the immense value Jim placed on his gold watch. The humorous comparison suggests Jim's watch would make even the fabulously wealthy Solomon envious. Solomon serves as a symbol of riches, pride, and high status, reinforcing the watch's significance through contrast and wit.