THREE LOVE STORIES: A COMPARISON

THREE LOVE STORIES: A COMPARISON

    Three love stories written in different centuries and settings can still share significant thematic components although with different outcomes. The names of these stories are William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, and O. Henry’s ‘The Gift of the Magi’ and ‘A Service of Love’. The trio explores the concepts of love, sacrifice and fate, despite the differences in their plot. In ‘Romeo and Juliet’, the love between the two main protagonists is acute and passionate. Shakespeare portrays love as sacrosanct and above the reaches of the parochial society and clan feuds that separate Romeo and Juliet. Their love is chaste, but it becomes tainted by haste and miscommunication, leading to their untimely deaths that coins the term ‘Romeo error.’ 

    The stories of O. Henry, ‘The Gift of the Magi and ‘A Service of Love’, relay the meaning of love in a more grounded manner. In ‘A Service of Love’, the manifestation of love between the narrator and Delia is expressed in daily acts of devotion and sacrifice. Delia's love is not expressed in grand gestures, but through continuous, selfless actions, which reflect her deep commitment to her husband. In the same manner, in ‘The Gift of the Magi’, the love between Della and Jim is also expressed in selfless ways. They surrender their most prized possessions. Della surrenders her hair and Jim surrenders his watch to buy meaningful gifts for each other, but the gifts physically don’t fructify. The narration demonstrates that love can be expressed through small and meaningful gestures. While the display of love in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is more dramatic and intense, the love in O. Henry’s stories is equally profound, though more nuanced and enduring.

    Sacrifice is a crucial element in all three stories, but the nature and degrees vary. In Romeo and Juliet, the sacrifices made by the protagonists are both tragic and irreversible. The lovers’ decision to end their lives in response to the misunderstanding of Juliet’s “death” illustrates the extreme measures they are willing to take for love. Shakespeare concludes that while love can cross boundaries, it can also lead to irreversible consequences.

    In contrast, the sacrifices made in ‘A Service of Love’ and ‘The Gift of the Magi’ are also significant but not life-threatening.

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About the Writer

Kamlesh Tripathi is an Indian author, poet and columnist. He has eight books to his credit. Some of his books are archived in international libraries for reading, including Harvard and the Library of Congress, USA. He also has many published short stories, articles and poems to his credit. He is a regular contributor to newspapers and magazines, including the Times of India.

He is a member of Lucknow Golf Club, Kasauli Club, Himachal Pradesh and a member of MCA Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana, Mumbai. He also runs an NGO named Shravan Charity Mission that serves poor children suffering from cancer.