In William Sydney Porter’s short story “The Gift of the Magi,” it is evident that Porter makes a conscious effort to control the elements of plot in a way that will leave the reader captivated. This incredible tale of love and sacrifice begins in the exposition, which introduces the sympathetic atmosphere and Della’s feelings about not being able to afford Jim’s Christmas present. Because the peak of conflict is that of when Jim comes home to find Della’s newly cut hair, it adds suspense to the story, drawing the reader in. The brief resolution also adds onto what Porter is uniquely showing the readers about love.William Porter’s use of the exposition, climax, and resolution is what makes this a story such a moving and thought-provoking piece of literature.
The exposition of “The Gift of the Magi” is a perfect example of William Porter’s use of the plot elements. The narrator states that the dynamic character of the story, Della Dillingham Young, cries after discovering her misfortune during the exposition, ‘“Three times Della counted it. One dollar
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During the climax, Della decides to cut her hair in order to receive the money to buy Jim’s gift, leaving Della to say ‘“If Jim doesn’t kill me, she said to herself, before he takes a second look at me, he’ll say I look like a Coney Island chorus girl. But what could I do-oh! What could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents. . . .”’ (6). The reader then realizes that the conflict has not ended, which gives him or her a sense of urgency to uncover what is to occur next. Although Porter does a brilliant job of controlling the exposition and conflict, his climax is what definitely shows his ingenious and remarkable ability to captivate the reader’s interest by controlling the plot through his