9. In which of the following resides the irony in the short stories “The Gift of the Magi” and “The Necklace?" (1 point)
The protagonists value objects more than people.
The protagonists want to escape their low social status.
The protagonists struggle for something that proves to be useless.
The protagonists learn to value hard work and loyalty instead of wealth.
3 answers
The protagonists struggle for something that proves to be useless.
im sorry to misjudge you but are you sure
Yes, I am sure. The irony in both "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Necklace" lies in the fact that the protagonists, in their pursuit of material possessions, make great sacrifices and ultimately obtain the very things that end up being useless to them. In "The Gift of the Magi," Della sells her most prized possession, her hair, to buy a chain for Jim's watch, only to find that Jim has sold his watch to buy her combs for her hair, rendering their gifts useless. In "The Necklace," Mathilde borrows a diamond necklace to wear to a party, only to lose it and spend years working to pay off the debt incurred from buying a replacement, only to realize that the original necklace was a fake and therefore essentially worthless.