It’s that time of year again, and while everyone loves receiving gifts, giving them can prove to be a bit more difficult. Fear not! We’ve compiled a list of the best gifts given in literature so you can pull inspiration from your favorite characters and get your loved ones a gift so special and meaningful, it might just change the plot of their story.
1. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone: The Invisibility Cloak
In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, young Harry is gearing up for a gift-less holiday when he and Ron discover the Invisibility Cloak wrapped and gifted to Harry underneath the Christmas tree. At the time, the giver remained anonymous, but it was later revealed to be Albus Dumbledore. What makes the cloak so meaningful, other than its magical abilities, was that it belonged to Harry’s father James, and is one of the only possessions of his father that Harry owns. Like James before him, Harry uses the cloak to get into all kinds of mischief throughout the series.
2. Little Women: The Piano
In a book of many meaningful moments, none is quite as potent as the piano, gifted to Beth by the elderly Mr. Laurence who lives next door. Beth’s only real love, besides her family, is music, but her family’s piano is old and run down. Mr. Laurence takes a liking to Beth and allows her to play his piano, which deepens their relationship. Beth reminds him of his daughter who died and he ultimately gifts her the piano as a show of admiration and love. This tender and emotional moment only makes Beth’s later death all the more heartbreaking.
3. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory: The Bar of Chocolate
In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Bucket Family is so poor that Charlie does not even begin to hope for a birthday present. However, his parents splurge and buy him a bar of Wonka Chocolate in the hope that his will include the golden ticket. While that particular piece of candy does not have the fabled ticket, the gift is still meaningful. Charlie also shows his kindness and generosity by splitting his only birthday present with his entire family.
4. The Fellowship of the Ring: Bilbo’s Mithril Vest
In The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin undergo a harrowing journey to Rivendell, before forming the full fellowship and setting off to Mordor. In Rivendell, Frodo reconnects with his uncle Bilbo, who gifts him a chainmail vest made from Mithril. Mithril is rare and valuable due to its incredible strength, while still being light and comfortable for the wearer. The material is mined by the dwarves and is only found in the mines of Moria. Bilbo’s gift will serve Frodo well on the journey to come and save his life on more than one occasion.
5. The Hunger Games: The Mockingjay Pin
In The Hunger Games, Madge Undersee gives Katniss the mockingjay pin that originally belonged to her aunt, who died in the 50th Hunger Games. The Mockingjay is the symbol of District 12 and Madge makes Katniss promise to wear it in the arena, as a reminder of where she comes from and who she is representing. The pin goes on to mean much more, becoming a symbol of rebellion in the later civil war against the capital. Katniss herself becomes a figurehead of the war, serving as the human representation of the Mockingjay.
6. The Secret Garden: The Gardening Books
In The Secret Garden, Mary’s desire to learn how to garden and tend to a little plot of land is a representation of her inner healing and growth. When she meets Archibald Craven for the first time, he gifts her books on gardening and flowers. This show of kindness not only propels Mary further on her journey of healing and discovery, but is also a pivotal moment for Master Craven, showing his potential for kindness and generosity despite his otherwise neglectful behavior.
7. Call Me By Your Name: Oliver’s Shirt
Throughout Call Me By Your Name, Elio and Oliver’s love is shown through their ability to connect with each other on such a deep level that to a certain degree, they become one another. Their game of referring to the other by their name (Oliver called Elio and Elio called Oliver) symbolizes how their love allows them to transcend the confines of their own being. At the end of the summer, Oliver gives Elio the shirt he wore upon first arriving at the Perlman’s house. In doing so he symbolically gives Elio a piece of himself, and solidifies their bond. He even leaves the shirt with a note saying "To Oliver, From Elio."
8. Game of Thrones: The Dragon Eggs
No gift has altered the trajectory of a character’s life more than that of three petrified dragon eggs Daenerys Targaryen is given by Illyrio Mopatis upon her wedding to Khal Drogo. While it is unclear where the eggs came from, or how Illyrio got them, they not only set Daenerys on the path to becoming the infamous Mother of Dragons, but also the return of magic to Westeros. Traditionally, dragon eggs would be given to Targaryen babies upon their birth, but since all the dragons died and the Targaryens overthrown, Dany is alone and isolated from her history. These eggs symbolize a return to her birthright and set her on an unstoppable journey to power.
Okay, okay, so maybe you don’t have a Mithril vest or invisibility cloak on hand. Either way, what these gifts have in common is a symbolic value far greater than the item alone, and a deep knowledge of the recipient. We hope this list inspires you to discover what your friends and family will truly love, and give them that perfect gift.
