Short Story Analysis Essay "The Cactus"

Melanie Solis
English 1302
Professor Wishard
May 12, 2015 “The Cactus” Analysis Resubmit
Benjamin Franklin once stated that “Lost time is never found again”, the short story “The Cactus” is about a man named Trysdale, who allows his “vanity and conceit” (O. Henry “The Cactus” paragraph six) get in the way of his relationship with a girl that adores him. He fails to find meaning behind a cactus that she gave him in response to his proposal. Instead of knowing the cactus’ importance, which she thought he did, he instead is very prideful while waiting for her to make her answer clear. His pride turns out to be his worst enemy and only after her marriage to another does he find out that the cactus’ name “Ventomarme” translates to “come and take me” (O. Henry “The Cactus”). In the story, Henry tells a story using three literary elements that play a role in the unpredictable end, this include symbolism, main characters, and irony. The first element to analyzing this story is what the cactus of the story symbolizes. While Trysdale is reminiscing what may have been with his ex-girlfriend, he is staring at the plant that she has given to him. During the time that he is thinking about her, the audience does not understand the significance of the plant and what it means to him. His ex-girlfriend would adore him and show much affection for him. It is when he proposes to her that she asks for time to think about it and Trysdale is too prideful to wait. On the day that she promises her response, she sends him this very cactus he stares at while he thinks about her and what might have been. Trysdale does not understand the meaning and when they meet up, neither of them say a word, and their relationship almost immediately ends. During the time that Trysdale is looking back at his ex-girlfriend, the audience finds out that he had just attended her wedding to another, which caused him to look at this gift from her and miss her. At the end of the story, Trysdale learns that the name of the cactus translates to “Come and take me,” but it is too late. Many people, like Trysdale, take advantage of time and all that is given to them. The cactus is used as a gift of time and how it can sometimes be underestimated in terms of significance. Another element of the story is irony. During the time that Trysdale is reminiscing, it is stated that when they were together, she approached him about speaking Spanish, and he does not deny but instead, goes along with the lie. "And Captain Carruthers tells me that you speak Spanish language like a native," (O. Henry “The Cactus” paragraph ten). When he proposes and the only reply he receives is the cactus, he does not ask her about it, and she does not tell him what it means, nor her answer. After their relationship ends, he keeps the plant, and thinks of her when he sees it. Trysdale and his friend are in his kitchen after attending his ex-girlfriend’s wedding to another. His friend informs Trysdale that the cactus’ name translates to “Come and take me,” from Spanish. Because Trysdale’s ex-girlfriend thought that Trysdale could speak Spanish, she sent him the plant as her acceptance of the proposal. Unfortunately, he never understood the meaning of the gift, nor what her answer was, and he did not figure it out until it was too late. In the end, the irony of the story makes the audience feel a bit sympathetic for Trysdale and what occurred. It is then realized that lost time is irreplaceable.
The last element is major characters of the story. The major character of “The Cactus” is Trysdale. Trysdale is the main character, and the protagonist of the story. The story revolves around him, his thoughts, emotions, and a little of his point of view. His ex-girlfriend, whose name is not stated in the story, is only mentioned in the story, she does not have any major part in the present time. His friend is only there for the ending of the story when he tells Trysdale what the cactus means. They are the supporting characters and only have very little dialogue but some impact of the story. Trysdale only speaks a few words as does every other character and is mostly reminiscing the majority of the story. Even though all of the characters only speak a few words in the story, they all play a major role in the plot and what occurs in the story.
In short, the “The Cactus” by O. Henry is an ironic story with an unexpected and unpredictable ending. From foreshadowing: “He let it grace his conquering head, and, among its soft convolutions, he did not feel the prick of the thorn that was to pierce him later.” (O. Henry “The Cactus” paragraph twelve) to the irony of the story, the audience was on their toes and were left feeling sympathetic for Trysdale. In the end, one realizes that time is not something to take advantage of, especially when it comes to their loved ones.