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Irony essay on the gift of the magi


Irony could be broken into a few different categories: For something like situational irony, the actions or events in a story will usually be enacted by a irony essay on the gift of the magi character and unbeknownst to the character, their action will have an effect that is completely opposite of their desired intentions. This is laid out first when Della learns that Jim had bought her a beautiful set of tortoise shell combs with bejeweled rims for her once beautiful hair.


This example is a textbook example of what situational irony is. Della had spent hours and hours looking for a way to make any money so that she could buy Jim the perfect gift, but the only way she could make any money was to get rid of her most prized possession: Leaving the story at irony essay on the gift of the magi would have been a great romantic endeavor, but the author decided that he would display a masterful element to change the entire dynamic of the tale by having Jim bring home a set of beautiful combs for her.

Now lets recap, situational irony is when actions that have an opposite of the intended effect. However, the ironic twists do not end with a set of tortoise shell combs.

Irony Analysis of the Gift of the Magi

It has already been established that the irony was evident with Della gift from Jim, but what about his gift? So Della may have a useless gift of combs that she can not use for her short hair, but at least she was able to get irony essay on the gift of the magi great gift for Jim right? Before that is answered, do not forget that Porter spent a little time explaining that Jim only made 20 dollars a week.

So how did he manage to buy the most beautiful set of combs when they were clearly out of reach of his budget? Simple, he sold his watch so he could get enough money, only to receive a chain for said watch. That was the irony train making its shipping route come in full circle.

Related Questions

Once again, irony is an action that is that is opposite of its intentional effect. What the author presented the audience with is a young poor couple that literally sold their most prized possession, hair and a pocket watch respectively, out of love for one another, only to receive accessories for the very items they just sold. This is something that is usually only seen on TV sitcoms, for example, when two people wear the same outfit in an embarrassing fashion.

It was clearly dumb luck or misfortune, depending how the reader reads it that on the same day each lover sheds their precious material good to do what they feel is more important, to make their respective spouse happy, no matter what. Situational irony is any actual irony involving a situation in which action irony essay on the gift of the magi a have an effect irony essay on the gift of the magi is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what is expected.

What the audience has is a wife who sold her hair to buy a chain for a pocket watch, only to receive combs that were bought from the earnings of said sold watch. The story ends on a quirky note, a note that one might feel could be a deep and meaningful lesson in life. Jim tells Della of the ironic situation that they had put themselves into, only to follow up by asking her to put the pork chops on the oven for supper.