Question

1. describe the \pier - glass\ in the apartment. now that you know the twist at the end of the tale, examine how this object symbolically relates to della.

Explanation:

In "The Gift of the Magi", the pier - glass is a narrow, tall mirror, likely a cheval - glass, in the apartment. Symbolically, for Della: 1. Reflection of Self - Worth and Beauty: Della often looks at her hair in it. Her hair is her prized possession, a symbol of her beauty and worth. The mirror reflects her physical beauty, especially her hair, which she later sacrifices. 2. Reflection of Sacrifice and Transformation: After she cuts her hair, the mirror reflects a changed Della. Her sacrifice (cutting hair to buy a gift for Jim) is mirrored in the new image she presents. The mirror also reflects the theme of self - less love, as Della’s act of giving up her hair is an act of love, and the mirror, in showing her new self, shows the transformation that love brings. 3. Reflection of the Irony of the Gift: The pier - glass, by showing Della's hair (now gone) and her new appearance, also reflects the irony of the gifts. Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair, and Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch. The mirror, in a way, is a silent witness to this ironic yet loving exchange, as it shows the part of Della that is now “missing” (her hair) and the new part (her sacrifice - driven transformation).

Answer:

The pier - glass in the apartment (from "The Gift of the Magi") is a tall, narrow mirror (likely a cheval - glass). Symbolically, it relates to Della as follows: It reflects her physical beauty (especially her prized hair) before her sacrifice. After she cuts her hair, it reflects her transformed self, embodying her act of self - less love and sacrifice for Jim. It also mirrors the irony of the gifts (Jim’s watch - related gift and Della’s hair - related gift), as it shows the “loss” of her hair (the very thing Jim’s gift was for) and her new, love - driven identity.