Cactus by O. Henry is a short story that does not contain extensive use of figurative language. However, there are a few instances where O. Henry incorporates some figurative language techniques to enhance the story's imagery and atmosphere. Here are a couple of examples:
1. "His voice was like a buzzard's after a hard winter."
This simile compares the character's voice to the sound made by a buzzard, emphasizing its harshness and unpleasantness.
2. "Buddy's clothes were yellow with adobe dust."
This metaphorical statement describes the color of Buddy's clothes, comparing them to the yellow hue of adobe dust. It helps create a vivid visual image of the dusty environment.
While these examples demonstrate the use of figurative language in Cactus, O. Henry's writing style is generally characterized by his wit, irony, and clever storytelling techniques rather than an abundance of figurative language.