How a writer with a bitter fate O. Henry wrote the most touching Christmas story "Gifts of the Magi"

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The focus on these holidays is, of course, the Gospel story about the Nativity of Christ: about the Star of Bethlehem over the cave, about the journey of the Magi and their worship of the baby Jesus Christ … Today is the time to remember the warm and touching Christmas stories, one of which belongs to the pen of the beloved many of the writer O. Henry.

(Brodsky Joseph, 1963-1964)

Until now, the Nativity of Christ, which took place more than two thousand years ago, is perceived by people not as an event from the distant past, but as a time of magic and miracles. And, indeed, around Christmas, amazing events often happen, the magic of which many people manage to experience for themselves. The magical atmosphere of the holiday is reflected by many writers in their Christmas stories. At the same time, the miracles described by them may not be at all connected with something supernatural, but come from the actions we have performed.

"Gifts of the Magi"

One of the warmest and most touching stories on the Christmas theme is "Gifts of the Magi", written by the not very sentimental writer O. Henry.

The title of the story - "Gifts of the Magi" - is rather symbolic. The Holy Scriptures say that at the birth of Jesus Christ, over the cave where he was born, the eight-pointed Star of Bethlehem shone, which indicated to the Eastern sages the holy place where the long-awaited Savior was born.

The Magi hurried there to see the Son of God and worship him. The Magi did not come empty-handed, they brought gifts to the baby Jesus: gold, incense, myrrh.

(Brodsky Joseph, 1963)

Hence the tradition of giving each other gifts on Christmas Eve.

The story described in this story is imbued with the spirit of Christmas and a magical, cozy atmosphere. And it is not just about Christmas gifts, but about priceless things that money cannot buy - about disinterested love and self-sacrifice.

The Dillingham couple, living in extreme poverty and barely making ends meet, nevertheless have two real treasures. One of them is the luxurious hair of the wife, and the other is the expensive family watch of the husband. All that is missing are matching accessories that can enhance the beauty of these treasures - tortoiseshell hair combs and a gold watch chain. The couple love each other very much, but they have no money for Christmas presents. But, nevertheless, each of them will find a way out to buy a gift …

These illustrations were made by one of the most magical artists - P. J. Lynch.

«» … (O. Henry)

The amazingly kind Christmas story about the value of true love, described by the writer O. Henry more than a hundred years ago, still thrills readers' hearts.

The bitter fate of the merry fellow O. Henry

And it is all the more surprising that beautiful touching stories that instill in people's hearts faith in justice, love and selflessness (stories "", "", etc.), stories permeated with wonderful light, humor and jokes, were written by a man whose fate was completely did not indulge, her blows rained down one after another. At the age of three, he lost his mother, who left tuberculosis, and later the same disease took the life of his wife.

The writer himself was accused of bank embezzlement, although it is likely that the accusation was false. In the casemates of a terrible prison, he spent three and a half years, but did not give up. It was in prison that William Sidney Porter (this is his real name) and began to write his first stories under the pseudonym O. Henry. He was distinguished from other prisoners by his cheerful disposition and kindness. "" - so called Porter, who was sitting with him Al Jennings, who previously traded in train robberies and became his best friend. Largely under the influence of O. Henry, when he was released, Al Jennings never returned to his past life, but became a famous politician and made a career in cinema. He shared his memories of his friend in the book "".

O. Henry's heart is now brighter, now weaker, but the fire of trust and love always burned, which he tried to share with people.

«».

O. Henry managed to create a special world in which there live kind, sincere people who smile at each other, a world that you do not want to leave.

“” - he once said.

And although melancholy and tormenting darkness often came to his soul, forcing him to seek salvation at the bottom of the glass more and more often, he could not share this with his readers and disappoint them. In his stories there is never any "chernukha", and they always end with a "happy ending".

And O. Henry died in poverty due to cirrhosis of the liver in the summer of 1910.