All people have something that is valuable to them. These items of value can be possessions of land and jewelry, or even feelings that are cherished towards someone or something. Sometimes however, an individual must give up what they value most to attain something more important. For instance, in many works of literature a character often sacrifices something of value in order to achieve something of greater value. Specifically in the short stories, The Gift …showed first 75 words of 934 total…

…showed last 75 words of 934 total…offered me you wine flask... Ulrich von Gradwitz, I will be you friend" (266). These examples clearly show how Ulrich sacrifices the honor and duty associated with protecting his land for a once hated enemy, and in the process gains a friend. Conclusively, in the short stories The Interlopers by Saki and The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, the sacrifice that Ulrich and Della make result in the attainment of something greater in value.