The main character in the short story “The Cactus,” written by O. Henry, is a young and wealthy man named Trysdale. He displays several traits that make him an interesting character. Trysdale proposes to his girlfriend, but she says she will send her answer the day after. Next day she sends him a cactus plant with a tag with the Spanish words “ventomarme” which means come and take me in English. However, the problem is that Trysdale does not understand Spanish and does not pay attention to the words on the tag. Trysdale’s egotism, conceit and excessive pride contribute to Trysdale losing his girlfriend to another man. Trysdale’s character is egoistic. He is a self-centered man that believes his girlfriend worships him. During the story, Trysdale views himself superior to others. For instance, when the narrator mentions “the night when he had asked her to come up on his pedestal with him and share his greatness.” The narrator refers to the scene when Trysdale asks his girlfriend to come to his pedestal as if he is a king. This quote relates to Trysdale’s trait of arrogance, his male ego, as he is too confident and assumes others should worship him. Everything is about Trysdale, Trysdale is vain.…show more content… For example, Trysdale does not admit to his girlfriend not having knowledge of Spanish. Trysdale accepts her admiration for his fake accomplishment of knowing Spanish and he is too proud to tell her the truth. As his friend says, the words on the cactus plant tag “ventomarme” means come and take me in English. But, Trysdale is not able to understand Spanish, he ignores the words on the tag and consider the cactus plant a refusal or betrayal from his girlfriend. Trysdale’s pride does not allow him to pay attention to the Spanish words on the tag, which stops him from understanding his girlfriend answer to his marriage
