Short Stories The Last Leaf Summary Themes Characters Analysis by O Henry
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Themes
Friendship
The central theme of the story is the friendship between Sue and Johnsy. They both love their art and share similar passions. When Johnsy falls ill, Sue manages all her care. She prepares her food and arranges for her treatment.
When Johnsy falls into despair and depression, it is Sue who encourages her to stay optimistic and in the end, it is Sue who informs Behrman about Johnsy's mental conflict.
Behrman is also close with the two girls and he ends up painting a realistic leaf outside Johnsy's window that inspires her to fight and survive.
Sacrifice
Behrman's true masterpiece ends up being his selfless sacrifice to help Johnsy survive and get better. His painting is a symbol of hope and inspiration because he not only does something for another person but ends up giving the biggest sacrifice for it.
Similarly, Sue is also willing to sacrifice her time and wishes for her friend. She is willing to devote all her energy in her care and even support her emotionally and financially when it would be easier for her to not get too involved.
They both prove that sometimes love and compassion can be more valuable than even the most valuable of material possessions.
Hope
The story is about the ability to rise above self-doubts and stay hopeful. Johnsy falls sick and sinks into despair about her chances of survival. She loses all hope to achieve her dreams of visiting Italy.
However, it is Sue who remains hopeful for both of them. She is the beacon of light for her friend. Behrman, having struggled as an artist, is depressed that he might never make is a singular art piece.
However, he ends making a truly inspirational one. This example also highlights that hope is what keeps dreams alive. If one loses all hope of getting better and accomplishing one's goals, then it is like giving up without trying.
Hope is what helped Johnsy reappear from the darkness of doubt and depression and hope is what helped Behrman achieve immoral greatness through his art.
Every falling leaf may suggest tough times but as long as the last leaf stays standing, there is still hope.
Characters
Sue
She is a young artist who works for a magazine. She is caring and supportive of her friend Sue. She is also very positive and optimistic when it comes to tough situations.
She even pays the bills for doctor and food during Johnsy's illness. It's her insistence that leads to Behrman's decision to paint the leaf outside Johnsy's room.
She shows bravery in a dire situation again when she informs her friend about Behrman's tragic end.
Johnsy
Johnsy is a young artist who dreams of visiting Naples, Italy and paint the bay there. Even though she is strong and caring, she falls victim to depression after contracting pneumonia.
Her depression sinks her deeper into misery as she starts to see her life wither with shedding leaves of winter. However, she is revived by a painting made by her neighbour Behrman who paints an immaculate leaf outside her window.
She accepts her folly and weakness and fights on to live and paint for years to come. In a way, she becomes Behrman's masterpiece.
Doctor
He is a good-natured and compassionate doctor. He does everything in his power to cure Johnsy's illness. However, he is quick to understand that Johnsy's cure was as much medical as psychological. He assumes that she may be having relationship issues with a man but Sue denies that.
In the end, he is the one who encourages Sue to inquire about the mental state of Johnsy and indirectly helps in understanding her obsession with falling leaves. Finally, he is the person who breaks the sad news of Behrman's pneumonia to Sue.
Behrman
A man of diverse traits, Behrman is a man in the twilight of his career and life. He is old and angry because he feels unable to find inspiration for his ultimate masterpiece.
He offers to model for Sue for her illustration as he likes the two young artists. Seeing Johnsy's predicament, he offers to help by painting a leaf even in inclement weather.
He finally achieves greatness through that painting and in its ability to provide hope to Johnsy. However, he pays the ultimate sacrifice with his life as he succumbs to pneumonia himself.
Analysis
Symbolism
The story uses the symbolism of leaf as the last surviving hope so as to encourage people to not despair. Earlier falling leaves signified decay for Johnsy but the painted leaf became her cure.
The streets symbolize the unpredictable nature of human emotions and relationships as they are rough and damaged. The weather and the rains symbolize the challenges that one faces in life in order to achieve true potential and greatness.
Setting
The story is set in a time and place that was full of aspiring artists. Based in early 20th century Washington, the place was had diverse strands of cultures, languages and arts.
This is highlighted by the Sue, Johnsy and Behrman who were all different in their passions and artistic taste. However, the place brought them together to learn from each other's abilities and traits.
Conflict
There are several points of conflicts in the story. Behrman is surprised by Johnsy lack of will to live while he is angry with Sue for convincing her otherwise. Johnsy is fighting against pneumonia as well as her depression.
Sue and Johnsy are at opposite ends when it comes to giving up in the face of difficulty. There is extraneous conflict as well in the shape of inclement weather and disease which ends up killing Behrman.
Message
The story gives a clear message of perseverance and hope. It encourages people to be compassionate and self-reflecting. The central lesson of the story is that no matter how hard life gets, there is always hope.
One should always attempt to fight against difficulties and survive when it seems all has been lost. Another lesson is to help each other and show empathy for people who are going through rough times. This is how human beings and society and heal each other's wounds.
Conclusion
The story ends with Johnsy's realization that she still had hope and all was not lost. She recognizes that her will to live was stronger than her psychological stress.
Also, Behrman's sacrifice inspires her to be stronger in the face of adversity. Behrman also achieves his dreams by painting his true masterpiece even though it comes at the cost of his life. Sue acknowledges Behrman's greatness both as an artist and a compassionate human being.
Summary
Story of Hope
The story is about friendship, determination, hope and the will to survive. It centers on artists who look for inspiration from their environment and desire to produce a work of art that outlives even their life. This is how they strive to achieve immortality through their form.
In the story, the central characters are all artists. Sue and Johnsy are two young achieving artists who have their lives ahead to achieve true artistic maturity.
There is also another artist named Behrman who is old and in the twilight of his artistic career. He harbours regret because of his incapacity to have developed his true masterpiece or singular work.
Sue and Johnsy are on good terms with their neighbour Behrman even though he is not very social. He often plays the model for many of Sue's illustrations for her magazine.
Johnsy Falls in Ill
One wintry night, Johnsy falls ill with a severe case of pneumonia. Sue arranges for the doctor but all his medicine fail to treat Johnsy completely. After trying everything, the doctor remarks that it is Johnsy's lack of will to live that is deteriorating her condition.
Sue tries to encourage Johnsy to work on her next big project and think about all the fantastic art that she has in reserves. However, Johnsy keeps getting weaker. Her dream to go to Italy and paint is also fading fast.
The Leaf
One thing in particular that haunts Johnsy is the tree outside her window. It has a vine which is continuously and progressively shedding all its leaves. By every fallen leaf, Johnsy loses her determination to fight her illness. The doctor also predicts her fast-approaching demise.
One day, Sue comes across Behrman who keeps lamenting about his missed chances. Sue informs him about Johnsy's obsession with the falling leaves.
He is insured by a sudden surge of artistic jolt and he spends an entire night in heavy downpour and storming winds in order to paint the leaves on his canvass.
Behrman’s Masterpiece
He posts it outside Johnsy's window view. Seeing the leaf and its ability to survive tempestuous weather, Johnsy is emboldened and slowly finds confidence in her own survival.
Soon she recovers and is able to paint. However, Behrman, having spent entire night in tumultuous weather contracts pneumonia and sadly passes away.
Even though the story ends with Behrman's demise, he outlives his death and becomes immortalized by completing his masterpiece, the last leaf standing.
