"The Gift of the Magi" and "The Necklace": Money and Its Control on People Did you ever want something but couldn't afford it? The short stories, "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Necklace", deal with two women's struggles to make someone else happy and how fulfilling your own wants can hurt you. The difference between these stories is how when push came to shove, the way the characters chose to spend their money. These two interesting and ironic stories revolve around one main character. They both try to make their lives or someone else's life better by using money.