Society and literature are closely connected with each other like two inseparable cords in a musical instrument.

Short story, as a minor genre in literature, narrates the stories of people we are directly or indirectly connected

with in relation to their nature. Short story has emerged as one of the powerful tools for making commentary on

human life. O’ Henry, an American short story writer, has written over 300 stories. His stories are featured by

twists of plots and surprise ending. It is rightly stated in the preface in one of his books of stories by a critic that

he (O. Henry) should always occupy a unique place in American fiction writing. He deserves to be rediscovered

by each succeeding generation of readers and scholars. Readers can find variety of themes in his stories which

bring novel perspective to the life. The Gift of Magi is one his stories that revolves around a husband, his wife

and their devoted conjugal life. A very heart touching story which highlights delicate relationship between Jim,

the husband and Della, the wife. The story can be studied in the light of psychology as both the characters are in

Literature and society are interconnected with each other since writing has been invented. If one wants to separate

them, one can not. Short story, one of the minor forms of literature, though has some limitations of its own, has

always reflected on the human life, human mind and its aspects. Human life, and various aspects of it, and

permanent appeals of human beings and human values have remained the chief concerns of literature from the

beginning. Literature encompasses many things from the life of a common man to the uncommon man, and

conflicts- internal and external as well. Human mind itself is a puzzle for human beings, but like scientists the

writers also take deep dive into it to make its readers understand the depth of its every aspect. Permanent instincts

of human beings reside deep there in the mind. The emotions of envy, hate, love, affection are also the play of

human mind. Psychology deals with this aspect of human life. And hence, Psychoanalysis refers to the study of

knees. The Christmas Eve of this year remains the most remarkable moment for both of them. It is because they

both sacrifice their most valuable possessions for each other, to offer them the gift of magi. The gift has been

considered as a gift given to baby Jesus Christ by the three wise men in the Biblical stories. The gifts given by

both the husband and the wife symbolize love and sacrifice. The gifts resemble in this way with the gift givens

The main aim of the research paper is to unravel the unexplored aspects of human mind in terms of

Psychoanalysis. To study spousal relationship depicted in the story is one more intention of the research paper.

To study both the characters psychologically and human values infused amongst them is also the objective for

The primary source for the research paper is the book of short stories entitled ‘O Henry 100 Selected Stories’

and published by PROJAPOTI (2013). The book consists of one hundred selected short stories written by O.

Henry. Apart from this book, research papers and other material has been referred for this paper. Though the

book contains one hundred selected stories of O. Henry, the researchers has focused merely on the first short

In modern times the short story, The Gift of Magi can be interpreted at various levels. The story can be interpreted

by applying the psychoanalysis provided by Sigmund Freud. The story can be explored to study the hidden

limits her actions and makes her conscious about the reality. Here, the ego plays a role of mediator who guides

her through this juncture. It comes with a solution which seems practical but painful too. She wants to sell her

hair in order to obtain the amount of money for her present. The superego plays its role i.e. her personality has

been shaped by moral values of sacrifice and duty as far as her husband is concerned. Here, in her character, one

can notice Freud’s structural model of id, ego and superego. Love, reality and morality all are intermingled

As it has been stated by Aayashi Yadav in her book, Literary Criticism: A new History that “Psychological

Criticism uses psychoanalytic theories, especially those of Freud and Jacques Lacan, to understand more fully

the text, the reader and the writer. The basis of this approach is the idea of the existence of a human

schematically into three zones. They are Id (unconscious), the ego (conscious personality) and the Super-

ego(conscience). With the help of these divisions and classifications, Freud gives us scientific explanations to a

“Psychoanalysis is not simply a branch of medicine or psychology; it helps understand philosophy, culture,

religion and first and foremost literature. In developing his theory of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud has often

While talking about Psychological Criticism D. H. Lawrence points out that “the knowledge of psychology has

been of great use for interpreting fictitious characters in literature. Such puzzling and inexplicable characters

have been explained away through a study of the subconscious repressions which motivate a character.” (Satish

Jim, the central male character in the story is a loving and care-taking husband. In the opening scene of the story

She was going through the poverty in her life. She was thinking about the present- fine, rare and sterling, she

Jim also faces the similar psychological trauma like his wife, Della. His desire to express love by gifting Della

a precious comb reflects his id-driven wish. The reality about his financial condition forces him to sell his watch

displays the working of ego. His moral responsibility and affection toward his wife (as his wife have for him)

The family of the two had only two possessions – ‘the gold watch from the time of Jim’s grandfather and Della’s

hair’ for which they would feel mighty pride. The story may be seen as a case of wish-fulfillment. Both, the

husband and wife unconsciously wish to prove their devotion. It is in one sense is a self-denial. The gifts which

are now of no use for each other, become symbolic objects of desire that fulfill a psychological need. The

evening, he finds Della’s head without long hair. He has not imagined that she will cut her hair to give him a

present. Finding him in a strange situation, as he has got a mental blow, she moves him fast and says, “Jim,

darling. Don’t look at me that way. I had my hair cut off, and sold because I could not have lived through

Christmas without giving you a present.” (O’Henry) The sacrifice for Jim’s present by Della can be interpreted

at emotional level as love- the unconditional love. Similarly, Jim’s present for his wife, Della brings the mixed

emotion on her face. When he converses with her about the gift he has brought for her, she opens it. The narrator

describes the situation. “White fingers and nimble tore at the string and paper. And then an ecstatic scream of

joy: and then, alas! A quick feminine change to hysterical tears and wails.” It is because there was a comb, her

long worshiped desire. He brought that pair of beautiful combs of tortoise shell by selling his watch, the only

the question of Christmas present and ends on the wiseness of the magi. Finally, the refence to the three wise

people makes distinction between the gifts offered by the magi to baby Christ and the presents offered by Jim

Thus, through psychoanalysis, ‘the Gift of Magi’ reveals itself as more than a sentimental tale. It is an exploration

of human psychology, where unconscious drives, moral imperatives, and emotional attachments shape behaviour.

Freud’s theory helps us to understand that the sacrifices of Della and Jim are not only acts of love but also