It is likely that Della counts the money three times simply out of sheer hope that the final count will yield a higher total. The first lines of the story tell us that Della has been saving up money to buy her husband, Jim, a Christmas present.
The text also tells us that it has been a challenging task for Della to save up enough money for a worthy present for Jim. Jim does not earn a...
It is likely that Della counts the money three times simply out of sheer hope that the final count will yield a higher total. The first lines of the story tell us that Della has been saving up money to buy her husband, Jim, a Christmas present.
The text also tells us that it has been a challenging task for Della to save up enough money for a worthy present for Jim. Jim does not earn a large income, and the household expenses are high. To save the $1.87, Della has to haggle with the grocer and the produce man, her efforts only saving her pennies at a time. For her part, Della is embarrassed at the memory of her haggling. She fears that she will be thought miserly for her efforts.
Della realizes that the $1.87 will never buy what she would consider a presentable gift for Jim. In her desperation, she counts the money three times ("thrice") to make absolutely sure that there is no mistaking the final total. In the end, Della sells her beautiful long hair for twenty dollars. With twenty-one dollars, she purchases a platinum fob chain for Jim's watch. Alas, Jim no longer has his watch: he sold it to pay for combs for Della's gorgeous hair.
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