Symbolism can be defined as "the practice of representing things by symbol, or inventing things with a symbolic thing or character". Author's use symbolism to draw more meaning out of their writing. "The Gift of the Magi" written by O' Henry, published in 1905, is a is an outstanding example of this. The story initially seeming to be a sweet story of a married couple who yearn to surprise one another with flawless Christmas presents; turns into a masterpiece that lies deeper than the surface being portrayed in the words themselves. "The Gift of the Magi" uses symbolism to make the story mesmerizingly real.
The story "The Gift of the Magi" has a multitude of symbols representing things within Della and Jim's lives. One being the color grey. As mentioned in the story, "She stood by the window and looked out dully at a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard." (Henry 165). Grey is a representation of dullness with in the characters' lives. It also depicts and element of sadness, for the characters do not have much aside from one another, they live with very little. It may also represent a loss of hope, the feeling that their lives with continue to be sad, and dull for the rest of their days. However, they always receive a glint of happiness when they are together. Which may restore
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One was Jim's gold watch that had been his father's and his grandfather's." (Henry 165) is also a notable symbol. More specifically the gold aspect. It gives off the façade of eternity, gold does not rust so neither shall his life. Even though Jim and his wife do not have the best of lives they have what need including one another, which shows that the gold could also mean love. It especially shows love when Jim willingly gives up said prized possession purely to get Della the perfect Christmas