Setting:
Place: New York.
Weather conditions: Snowy.
Historical period: 1905.
Seen traditions: Christmas.
Main characters: Della and Jim.
Inner conflict: They wanted to make each other happy with a gift.
External conflict: Jim and Della’s poverty.
Man vs Man: When Della is talking with the madame who is gonna buy her hair and Della she’s like: “Give me the money quickly”.
Man vs Society: This story shows one of the many situations where life it’s not fair, and society is impolite. When society doesn’t help us, we must help ourselves.
Mood: Sentimental.
Tone: Humorous and sardonic.
Climax: When the story ends with Della opening her gift and seeing the expensive combs.
Resolution: Jim and Della want to give each other a gift of love with a special meaning, Jim bought a set of combs that she wants for her hair, and Della bought a chain for his watch. The problem is that Jim sold his watch and Della her hair, so the gifts they bought for each other lost their purpose but the sentimental value was really wonderful, cause both of them sold their most valued objects for giving the other a gift.
New resolution: Jim didn’t sell the watch. Instead, he sold one of his kidneys, so he remained with his watch, and Della didn’t sell her hair but she asked her millionaire uncle to give her money. Both gave the gift to each other but its sentimental value wasn’t too much.
Alejandra Castro, Mariana Bolaño
& David Artuz, Step 9 Yellow.
