The main plot is about Jim and Della, a young married couple who are very poor. They each sacrifice their most precious possession to buy a gift for the other. Della cuts and sells her long beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair.
The story of Jim and Della is a touching one. They are a young couple who are very poor but deeply in love. Della has beautiful long hair which is her most precious possession. Jim has a gold watch that he values highly. As Christmas approaches, they both want to buy a special gift for the other. Della sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch. Meanwhile, Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. In the end, they realize that their love is more important than the gifts.
In the context of love, their story is very important. It tells us that love is not about having material wealth. Jim and Della were poor but they had a rich love. They were ready to sacrifice their own treasures - Della her hair and Jim his watch - just to show their love for each other. This shows that in love, the thought and the sacrifice behind a gift matter more than the gift itself.
Della is a loving and selfless woman. She is poor but she has beautiful long hair which she values. However, she is willing to sell it to buy a gift for Jim. Jim is also a very loving man. He treasures his watch but he sells it to buy combs for Della's hair. Both are kind - hearted and their love for each other is deep and pure.
First, you need to have a unique and engaging idea for your short story. Make the plot interesting and the characters relatable. For selling, research the right markets and publishers that accept short stories in your genre.
When approaching '21' by Jim Crace, we should also consider the writing style. Crace is known for his unique prose. His use of language might be crucial in this short story. He could use vivid descriptions to bring the setting to life, whether it's a small town or a vast landscape. The characters' dialogues might also be a key aspect, revealing their personalities and relationships. Also, the theme could be something profound, like the passage of time, the search for identity, or the complexity of human relationships within the context of this '21' - related concept.
Maybe Jim is the protagonist who goes through various adventures and experiences. Or, he could be a key figure influencing the events in the story. Without more details, it's hard to say exactly.
Since I haven't read the story, I'm not sure about the main characters. But they could be ordinary people living in a particular community, like a young protagonist trying to find his or her place in the world.