Written by the American writer O. Henry, A Service of Love depicts the power of love and how it allows people to sacrifice for each other. The story starts with the premise “When one loves one’s art, no sacrifice seems too hard.” Although the story is based on this line, it later proves it wrong. The story illustrates a newly married couple, Joe Larrabee and Delia Caruthers, who are deeply in love. Joe Larrabee, a talented painter from the Middle West, goes to New York to continue his studies with Mr. Magister, a renowned artist with high fees. Delia Caruthers, a girl who studies piano, also arrives at New York from the North and pursues her studies with Mr. Rosenstock, a pianist of high reputation. Both fell in love with each other in a short period of time and married, living in a little flat and following their dreams. As time goes on, money runs short and both lack money to pay for the high prices. Both lie to each other that they found a job that pays a great amount of money, with Delia claiming that she is teaching Clementina, the daughter of the rich General, A. B. Pinkney, and Joe pretending that he sold his paintings to a man in Peoria. O. Henry emphasizes the importance of love and its impact on one another, ending the story with the real premise of the book—“When one loves, no service seems too hard.”
Although the main characters in the story are skillful students, they experienced financial problems when pursuing their dreams. However, even in face of adversity, they continue to support each other. The names of the characters signifies their personality traits. Joe Larrabee, with Joe meaning God will add and Larrabee meaning settlement, is a selfless and resilient man who is willing to sacrifice and support Delia in achieving their dream despite the limited resources. Delia Caruthers, with Delia defined as “lovers of the moon” and Caruthers defined as “work hard”, is a determined and hardworking woman who endeavors to overcome the financial hardships she faces. Together, the young couple exemplify the power of love and inspire readers to believe in the strength of their own relationships. They tenaciously follow their aspirations in spite of difficulties and setbacks, demonstrating that love can conquer all the problems. Their determination to help each other stands as a testament to the strength of the realities of life and exhibits the importance of support and solace in a close relationship.
As the author portrays in the story, Joe and Delia love each other unconditionally and are willing to do anything for each other. The story delves into the theme of love and sacrifice through the white lies of the young couple. The main characters are both talented artists seeking for their dreams, yet, they are willing to relinquish their own ambitions for their loved ones. Through the twists and turns of the story, the revealing of their selfless decisions illustrates the essence of love and sacrifice. At first, the story demonstrates that Delia and Joe have found a job to pay for their fees. The readers believe that both can continue their studies and their life is moving in a good direction. However, surprisingly, when the situational irony in the story is revealed, we discover that both lied to each other so that the other person does not suffer. Joe is willing to fire the engine other than continuing his studies with master Magister, and Delia is willing to stop her studies and iron shirts to earn money for her loved one. Their unwavering devotion in the name of love in face of financial hardship showcases the power of love. O. Henry’s depiction of love demonstrates the selflessness and resilience one can have towards the loved one and highlights the enduring sacrifices individuals spontaneously make when confronted with obstacles in life.
While love is a complex feeling that can be manifested in different forms, O. Henry highlights its essence of sacrifice. In contrast to Fatima and Santiago’s love in the novel The Alchemist, Joe and Delia’s love in the short story “A Service of Love” emphasizes personal sacrifice for love other than the pursuit of personal dreams and ambitions. While the love between Fatima and Santiago love is more focused on spiritual growth and aspirations, the relationship between Joe and Delia is more practical in life as they make immediate sacrifices in face of the harsh realities of life, such as their economic shortage. O. Henry’s story showcases the altruism found in love, even in daily circumstances. The story demonstrates how love is not an abstract meaning but a tangible emotion that connects people together and conquers all obstacles. While “The Alchemist” depicts the importance of spiritual treasure and personal dreams, Delia and Joe’s love shows how one can put aside their own desires and prioritize the well-being of their loved ones. However, both examples present the power of love and its ability to enable people to vanquish impediments, no matter if it’s through sacrifice or persistence. “A Service of Love” explores the complexities of love and the sacrifices people are willing to make for it. The story delves into the difficulties one can face in love and underscores the dedication and self sacrifice love inspires one to do, navigating through the multifaceted nature of love and how sacrifice serves as a strength in a relationship.
The story “A Service of Love” ultimately highlights the capacity of love, showing that it can push individuals to overcome hindrances and make selfless choices. Through the love story between Joe and Delia, the book explores the importance of love and emphasizes that love is not a transitory emotion but a powerful force that impacts one’s life deeply. Through love, one can be motivated to surmount challenges in life and sacrifice for their loved one. O. Henry depicts the power of love by illustrating the sacrifices Joe and Delia are willing to make for their partner. Both decide to secretly work to earn a living when facing financial struggles, hiding their difficulties and giving up their own dreams to help their loved one. “A Service of Love” serves as a reminder that love is a profound and impactful force by demonstrating Joe and Delia’s sacrifice for each other, showing its unwavering and enduring power of love in the face of adversity.
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