Stylistic analysis

     The story I've read is written by O.Henry and is entitled "The Cactus". William Sydney Porter, known by his pen name O. Henry, was an American short-story writer of the 20th century.He is a representative of realism, who wrote about the life of ordinary people.  O. Henry's short stories are known for their wit, wordplay, warm characterization, and clever twist endings. O. Henry combined humor and pathos with an ironic twist of plot. Although some critics were not so enthusiastic about his formulatic way of writing, the public loved his entertaining tales and uncomplicated characters.  O. Henry wrote a story a week for the New Yourk World magazine, and published several short stories in other magazines. O.Henry wrote such classic stories as "The Ransom of Ref", "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Furnished Room". 

     The setting of the events in the given extract is realistic. It is presented in a general way. The story is set in Trysdale’s bachelor apartament after the marriage ceremony of the girl was over and the scent of the huge bunches of flowers piled in the church was still haunting him. He was filled with bitterness and chagrin, trying to ruminate upon the reason for his loss and how lovingly the girl had given her to the bridegroom in a public ceremony within the church. Trysdale was deeply distressed and looked unhappy. With him was his friend who happens to be the brother of the bride, who coincidentally finds the tag on the cactus and says that it was a common cactus in South America where he lived, and that the word on the tag was not a biological name, but a common Spanish word with which the plant is called. That word ‘Ventomarme’ means in Spanish “come and take me”. Trysdale now realizes his fault at ignoring the tag and the cactus sent by his proposed girl friend and instead expecting her assent in the way he expected her to give it. In his vanity Trysdale had ignored the call of bliss in his life and it was now too late to realize it.

    The main theme of the story is relationships between people who love each other, which demands truth and openness of heart. Hypocrisy and pride are the anathema to the world of love.

      The author's message is when you in love you should pay more attention to every detail, every word and every action, because it can be very important to your partner and firstly you can pay no attention to it but then you'll feel sorry for this fail.

     From the viewpoint of presentation the story is the 3d person narrative (The most notable thing about Time is that it is so purely relative. A large amount of reminiscence is, by common consent, conceded to the drowning man; and it is not past belief that one may review an entire courtship while removing one's gloves) with elements of dialogue ("Know any Spanish, Trysdale?" "No. Is it Spanish?" "Yes.").

    From the viewpoint of composition the story consists of: 

   The introduction of the story said that one may review an entire courtship while removing one's gloves.

    The plot is the Trysdale's recollaction of events of near past.

    The climax of the story is when Trysdale's friend said him what the inscription on the tag which was on the cactus means.

    The main character of the story is Trysdale, a young man, noble, wealthy and cultured, realizes that his girl friend is excessively devoted to him. ‘She had always insisted on placing him upon a pedestal, and he had accepted her homage with royal dignity’. Ultimately the day comes when Trysdale proposes to her. He is sure that she would be too eager to accept him readily. She showed all kinds of emotional jubilation and her body language too had been one of eager consent.’ How glad, how shy, how tremulous she was…. There was unmistakable consent in her eyes’, but it is her feminine modesty and coyness that results in her statement that she would send her answer the day after. The next day, Trysdale desperately awaited her reply, and his notion of himself as ‘the indulgent, confident victor’ was being deeply hurt. However, she sent through her groom a cactus plant with a tag ‘bearing a barbarous foreign or botanical name’ which he simply did not care for. Trysdale had taken the cactus as a mark of refusal or betrayal. He is described indirectly. The epithet indulgent, confident victor and the metaphor his large pride vanity are used to show that he was self-confident, overbearing, arrogant and conceited (He was courteous, adamant, ...).

      In order to portray the main character, to describe the setting, to reveal the idea and to render the general atmosphere of the story vividly and convincingly the author of "The Cactus" resorts to the following stylistic devices:

    The metaphor a thousand well-bread voices; the rustle of crisp garment; doubtful erudition; pride and hurt vanity is used to describe the surroundings of the main character in which he lives.

   Such epithets as innermost, unmitigated, arid unbedecked self; the indulgent, confident victor are used to describe the personality of the main character. To describe the woman, who Trysdale loves, the author used the following epithets poor consolation; swift, limpid, upward look; careless wave of her hair; the tenderness and virginal charm of her looks and words; a very sweet incense. To show her tenderness, softness and feminity O. Henry used simile (she is) so modest, so childlike and worshipful, and (he would once have sworn) so sincere; How she fluttered like a snared bird when he laid his mightiness at her feet! Also author uses repetition to show Trysdale's attitude to this woman How glad, how shy, how tremulous she was!

     The periphrasis the drawling words of the minister irrevocably binding her to another is used to show how hard it was for Trysdale to see that the wonam, he loves, married another man.

    The polysyndeton She had invested him with an almost supernatural number of high attributes and excellencies and talents, and he had absorbed the oblation as a desert drinks the rain that can coax from it no promise of blossom or fruit. is used to depict woman's attitude to Trysdale.

    The personification he saw all the garbs of pretence and egoism that he had worn now turn to rags of folly; his conceit had crumbled describes the negative features of Trysdale's temper, which broke his happiness.

    The oxymoron unworthy, sullen exultation describes the complicated feelings which Trysdale had when he saw his woman, who had slowly moved up the aisle toward the altar.

    The aposiopesis And how free from either she had always been -- But why --; There had been no quarrel between them, nothing --; If-- is used to show unwillingness to finish the sentences because it is very hard for him to tell about something important and close.

    Summing up the analysis of the story I can say that O. Henry brilliantly uses epithets, metaphors and other stylistic devices which help to create a true-to-life atmosphere of the events depicted and bring to the reader the main idea of the story. I'd like to say that the story is really interesting and thrilling.