The Cactus by O. Henry | Summary and Exercise

The Cactus by O. Henry

O. Henry is the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862–1910), whose short stories are well known for their wit, wordplay, and unexpected twist endings.

Themes: pride, miscommunication, and the consequences of pride in romantic relationships.

O. Henry’s short story “The Cactus” is about a man named Trysdale. He is proud and vain (too proud of himself). Because of his ego, he loses the woman he loves. He realizes his mistake only after he sees her marry another man. The story shows how pride and deceit (trickery or lying) can cause a person to lose love and a valuable chance in life.

Trysdale and his friend are in Trysdale’s apartment after a wedding. A cactus in a red earthen vessel is placed on the table. His friend is the bride’s brother. He is standing by a sideboard (a dining-room cabinet for dishes), complaining about being allowed to drink alone. Both men are wearing evening dress.

Trysdale is deeply disturbed by the events of the day. He begins to see his true self. His pride, pretence (a false show or claim), and ego now seem foolish to him. He remembers the fragrance of flowers and the sounds from the church where the wedding took place. He recalls watching the woman walk to the altar and look at her new husband with love—the same look she once had for him.

He remembers how she once thought him perfect. He recalls a time when she asked whether he could speak Spanish, as she had heard this from one of his friends. To impress her, he lied and said he knew Spanish well. When he proposed to her, she asked him to wait until the next day for her answer. He waited impatiently. The next day, she sent him a red earthen vessel with a cactus. There was only a tag on it, which he assumed was the plant’s name. There was no note.

Later, Trysdale’s friend asks if he really knows Spanish, and Trysdale admits that he does not. The word written on the tag is “Ventomarme,” which means “come and take me.” Because of his lie, Trysdale failed to understand her message and lost the woman he loved. If he had been honest, she would have sent her reply in a language he could understand.

a. Who is Trysdale’s friend, and what is he doing?

Trysdale’s friend is the bride’s brother. He is in Trysdale’s apartment after the wedding. He is standing by the sideboard, dressed in evening clothes, and complaining about drinking alone.

b. What does Trysdale recall about the events at the church?

He recalls the smell of flowers in the church and the sounds of the ceremony. He remembers seeing the woman walk down the aisle and look lovingly at her new husband. That same look was once meant for him.

c. How does Trysdale feel about the woman he loved marrying someone else?

He feels sad and deeply regretful. He realizes that his pride and dishonesty caused him to lose her forever. He sees his own foolishness and wishes he had been honest.

d. What did the woman say to Trysdale when he asked her to marry him?

She did not give an immediate answer. She asked him to wait until the next day. Instead of speaking directly, she later sent him a cactus with a tag that carried her reply.

e. What does the name “Ventomarme” mean, and how does it relate to the story?

“Ventomarme” means “come and take me.” It was the woman’s quiet way of accepting Trysdale’s proposal. Because Trysdale had lied about knowing Spanish, he failed to understand her message and lost her love.