Marriage as Captivity in O. Henry and Kate Chopin

Introduction: Two Stories, One Theme

The short stories The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin explore the nuances of married life in memorable and plaintive ways. At first glance, these two stories appear to be very different and to portray the institution of marriage in dramatically distinct ways. However, each story examines a trend that can exist within a union between two people: the trend of captivity in marriage. Both O. Henry's and Chopin's stories demonstrate the prevalence of captivity in marriage and how one's marriage partner can quickly become one's cellmate. Each story demonstrates a certain level of the imprisonment that can exist and thrive within marriage, and how damaging this can be when left unchecked.

Captivity in 'The Gift of the Magi'

The Gift of the Magi at first glance appears to be a classic story about a young couple who attempts to sell their most precious possessions in order to purchase an appropriate Christmas gift for the other. On the surface, this appears to be a charming story about two thoughtful and selfless people who simply want to give the other a meaningful present. The problem with the intentions of these characters is that they both believe a gift worthy of the other person must, by necessity, be extremely expensive. This is problematic because it demonstrates a form of captivity within the union. Both partners are captive to an impractical ideal — one which specifies that love and affection have a price. This is an imprisonment of sorts, and they are both held to the notion that in order for their love to be considered meaningful, they must put a particular price tag on their affection.

This sense of captivity causes more problems than it solves. Rather than bringing them closer to one another in a healthy and constructive manner, it pushes them further apart in a way that essentially tightens the chains that bind them together. As one scholar writes, "a dilemma causes two characters to act along independent paths, unaware of each other's efforts; eventually they discover that their actions have been working against, or at cross-purposes to, the other's actions" (Zuniga, 2012). There is a sense of blindness present throughout this story. Marriage is presented as a union in which the two parties are deeply out of step with one another — a pronounced lack of oneness and an obliviousness that renders them both highly out of touch with each other.

Rather than creating a Christmas where both partners receive gifts beyond their wildest dreams, these two create a sense of disappointment and disconnect. The fact that both partners focus so strongly on the importance of money and material possessions demonstrates a lack of understanding of the real value within human connection. This implies that perhaps there is no deep connection between these two individuals — that they are, in a sense, simply two people flung together in a marriage that is only skin deep. As a result of Jim and Della's skewed values, their marriage begins to resemble nothing more than a series of gestures. Rather than two people who are genuinely in love, they start to look more like two children confined to a small room who cannot find a way out.

References

Christin, C. (2012). A Story of an Hour. Retrieved from wordpress.com.

O'Henry. The Gift of the Magi. Retrieved from auburn.edu.

Vcu.edu. (2013). "The Story of an Hour." Retrieved from vcu.edu.

Zuniga, L. (2010). "Married folks they are: and few pleasures they have": marriage scenes in O. Henry's short stories. University of Granada, 151–161.