O. Henry's short but powerful short stories are masterpieces of irony, as the outcome of the stories often involves an unexpected twist. For example, in "Heart and Hands," the man who the reader thinks is the marshal winds up being the prisoner.
O. Henry's stories also widen our vision because they challenge our prejudices and preconceived notions. For example, in "Heart and Hands," the reader might assume that the attractive character, Mr. Easton, is the representative of the law. However, although he is young and handsome, he is the prisoner. At the end of the story, the reader learns that his or her prejudices have been wrong and that the less attractive, older member of the pair on the train is the marshal and that Easton is the prisoner. In "Gifts of the Magi," a young couple named Jim and Della buy Christmas gifts for each other that don't work out. Jim buys Della combs for her hair, but she has cut off her hair to buy him a chain for the watch he sold to buy her the combs. This story expands our vision because it makes us realize that our preconceived notions of what we need to buy on Christmas--that is, material goods--are often flawed. Instead, as Jim and Della realize, the ultimate gift they can give each other is love.
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