The last leaf plot analysis. The Last Leaf 2022-11-01

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The Last Leaf is a short story by O. Henry about a young woman named Johnsy who is suffering from pneumonia. She is bedridden and has a bleak outlook on life, believing that she will die when the last leaf on the ivy vine outside her window falls.

The story is set in Greenwich Village, a bohemian neighborhood in New York City, during a particularly cold winter. Johnsy is being cared for by a nurse named Sue, who tries her best to lift Johnsy's spirits and encourage her to fight her illness.

One day, Johnsy becomes fixated on the last leaf on the ivy vine and believes that when it falls, she will die. Sue tries to persuade Johnsy otherwise, but Johnsy remains convinced.

Meanwhile, there is a painter named Behrman who lives in the same building as Johnsy and Sue. Behrman is a reclusive man who rarely leaves his room, but he is touched by Johnsy's situation and decides to do something to help. He spends a long, cold night outside, painting a leaf on the wall in the same place as the real leaf on the ivy vine.

When Johnsy wakes up the next morning, she sees the leaf on the wall and is overjoyed. She believes that the leaf has somehow stayed on the vine, and this gives her hope and the will to live. She begins to recover from her illness and eventually makes a full recovery.

The Last Leaf is a touching story about the power of hope and the human spirit. It shows that even in the darkest of times, a small act of kindness can make a big difference. The character of Behrman is a perfect example of this, as his selfless act of painting the leaf on the wall ultimately saves Johnsy's life.

Overall, The Last Leaf is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the human capacity for compassion and resilience. It is a reminder that hope can be a powerful force and that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a profound impact on the lives of others.

The Last Leaf Plot Summary

the last leaf plot analysis

Shifting Point of View The beginning of "The Last Leaf" is told by an omniscient, all-knowing narrator. Something has made the last leaf stay to show her how bad she was. A nice old gentleman would not hurt a weak little woman from California. That afternoon Sue goes to Johnsy's bed to tell her friend that Mr. Soon, Behrman came to visit Johnsy but found her asleep.

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The Last Leaf Summary & Analysis

the last leaf plot analysis

He is able to paint his masterpiece, saving Johnsy's life but losing his own. Sue and Johnsy are at opposite ends when it comes to giving up in the face of difficulty. Behrman becomes so angry that Johnsy is counting the ivy leaves that he tells Sue, "Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs day drop off from a confounded vine? Also the streets mentioned at the start of the story. Sue enlists the help of their downstairs neighbor, Berhman. Still, she says it will fall that day, and she will die.

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Last Leaf

the last leaf plot analysis

Thanks for the comment Najeeb. Finally, Sue remarks, Behrman has painted his masterpiece. Ending The ending of the story reveals the plot twist. Readers will note that O. .


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Short Story Analysis: The Last Leaf by O. Henry

the last leaf plot analysis

Backdrop of the Last Leaf Summary PDF The Last Leaf is a tragic story that has touches of sacrifice, hope, and hopelessness. Behrman is very upset that Johnsy wants to give up on life. In describing the streets of Greenwich Village, the author writes that the streets "turn in different directions" and that "one street goes across itself one or two times. It is possible that Henry is suggesting that artists, though many might say they make life difficult for themselves, this may not necessarily be the case. When the leaf falls Johnsy will or decides that the time is right for her to die.

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A Summary and Analysis of O. Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf’

the last leaf plot analysis

Sue replies that there isn't one. Johnsy dreams of painting the Bay of Naples but unexpectedly falls ill and awaits her death. They share an inexpensive studio at the top of a run-down apartment building. Behrman was a failure in art. Henry, this one is a sentimental one and has a tragic ending as well. Behrman sees that Johnsy has lost all hopes to live. Sue and Johnsy live in the top apartment of the house.


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The Last Leaf Conflict

the last leaf plot analysis

Lesson Summary ''The Last Leaf'' was written by O. Rising Action Johnsy and Sue become good friends. The short story uses several literary devices, such as personification. She tells Johnsy not to be "goosey" because the doctor told her that Johnsy's chances for getting well are ten to one. Nevertheless, Johnsy is convinced that she is not going to live, so she urges Sue to leave the room. Sue tried her best to cheer up Johnsy, but she took no interest in the surroundings.


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The Last Leaf by O. Henry

the last leaf plot analysis

However, he then starts to talk about pneumonia, personified as a cruel, cold man walking through Greenwich Village and touching various people. He is, in short, a failed artist. Both readings are possible, but several clues suggest that the young women may be more than friends. Johnsy, an artist who is sick with pneumonia, believes she will die when the last leaf falls from the tree outside her window. Henry depicts a vibrant creative community. A lively young girl who once dreamt of painting the Bay of Naples just awaits her death.

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The Last Leaf Summary

the last leaf plot analysis

Sue attempts to talk Johnsy out of this obsession without success. Sue her friend and the woman who lives with Johnsy is worried about Johnsy. Not only do the male doctor and Mr. Behrman to model for her, and she needs the light from Johnsy's window. And if I should live to be The last leaf upon the tree In Let them smile, as I do now, At the old forsaken bough Where I cling. She is quiet because she thinks Johnsy is sleeping, but Johnsy starts counting backward. They need to face tough times courageously and support people who need their help on time.

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The Last Leaf

the last leaf plot analysis

It is also possible that Behrman scoffs at other people because he may consider himself to be better than others. Middle The rising action is introduced by an intrigue: Johnsy falls sick with pneumonia andis so weak that the doctor believes she only has a slim chance of living. Berhman dies, and Sue realizes that he got sick when he went outside to paint a leaf so that Johnsy would not see the last leaf fall. Sue says that Johnsy always wanted to go and paint the Bay of Naples, but the doctor replies that he was thinking more of a man in Johnsy's life. He asks Sue if there's anything for Johnsy to live for. Thanks for the comment Dhiren. Each reader is going to appreciate the story in different ways.

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