The Rubber Plant's Story by O. Henry
A wealthy man dies and leaves his fortune to a rubber plant, which he had grown fond of during his illness. The will stipulates that the plant must be cared for by a specific person until it reaches maturity, at which point the inheritance will be transferred to its caretaker. The story follows the various individuals who attempt to claim the inheritance by taking care of the plant, each with their own motivations and methods.
By O. Henry · First published 1906 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 1,978 words
First lines
We rubber plants form the connecting link between the vegetable kingdom and the decorations of a Waldorf-Astoria scene in a Third Avenue theatre. I haven't looked up our family tree, but I believe we were raised by grafting a gum overshoe on to a 30-cent table d'hôte stalk of asparagus. You take a white bulldog with a Bourke Cockran air of independence about him and a rubber plant and there you have the fauna and flora of a flat. What the shamrock is to Ireland the rubber plant is to the dweller in flats and furnished rooms. We get moved from one place to another so quickly that the only way we can get our picture taken is with a kinetoscope. We are the vagrant vine and the flitting fig tree. You know the proverb: "Where the rubber plant sits in the window the moving van draws up to the door."
What this Textopian page supports
The Rubber Plant's Story is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary, Fantasy, Romance
- Length: 1,978 words
- Structure: 1 section, 27 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for The Rubber Plant's Story by O. Henry
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Rubber Plant's Story?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Dog And The Playlet by O. Henry
- A Green Hand by O. Henry
- Not So Much A Tam Fool by O. Henry
- The Third Ingredient by O. Henry
- The Day Resurgent by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores themes of identity, belonging, and the human experience through the perspective of an inanimate object, showcasing depth and character development.
- Humor — The writing employs wit and irony, particularly in the rubber plant's observations about its surroundings and the people it encounters.
- Social Commentary — The story reflects on urban life, the transient nature of existence in a city, and the emotional connections people form with their environment.
- Fantasy — The personification of the rubber plant allows for a whimsical exploration of its thoughts and feelings, blurring the lines between reality and imagination.
Tags
Fiction · Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Realism · Irony · Plot Twist · Comedy of Manners · Class Satire