Very brief comparison and contrast of 'The Necklace' and 'The Gift of the Magi'

'The Gift of the Magi' by O. Henry and 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant are two short stories that share some similarities. Namely, they are both ironic. The two main characters in both also happen to be husband and wife and make sacrifices for their spouse. The husband in 'The Necklace' is a 'thrifty clerk' who doesn't like to spend too much money. After implored by his wife, he gives her the money that …

…long hair of which even Queen Sheba would envy her. These two events in the short stories both demonstrate their respective themes. "The Gift of the Magi"'s theme is that love is more important than any material possessions. The theme of 'The Necklace' is best expressed by the narrator,"How little a thing it takes to destroy you or to save you" in retrospect to the incident of following the loss of the necklace.