The Last Leaf free essay sample

The Last Leaf (by O. Henry) Analysis O. Henry is one of the most famous American short story writers. His real name was William Sydney Porter and he was born on September 11, 1862. In 1894 was accused of stealing money and went to prison. While in prison Porter first started to write short stories. After Porter was released, he changed his name to O. Henry and published his stories in magazines. O. Henry’s short stories are famous for their surprise endings and humor. O. Henrys wrote such classic short stories as The Ransom of Red Chief, â€Å"The Gift of the Magi† and â€Å"The Furnished Room†. One of his stories with surprise endingis The Last Leaf. The theme of the story is hope belief and self-sacrifice. When Mr. Behrman hears of the severity of Johnsy’s condition, he decides to help. So Johnsy will be convinced to fight the pneumonia, he paints the exact image of the last leaf on the branch outside her window the day the last leaf fell. The story does foreshadow him painting the leaf in that he is always talking about the masterpiece he is going to paint and how he is a protector of the two young women that live above him. Now the inference that can be taken from his actions is that he had touched no one with his art he had no true masterpieces. By painting the last leaf he insured that johnsy would be affected by his art even only to get her through her illness. He paints a leaf in the pouring rain just for her and so she would pull through. She realized her foolishness when the leaf had staid and made a complete turnaround. The work done by Behrman saved her life he had an impact on an audience witch is all any artist can ask for. The irony that his best work caused him to lose his life it is also worth looking into. He had yet to reach anything of value tell this leaf and he dies two days later before Johnsy even knows what he had done for her. He doesn’t even get to see if he would pull through. This irony could be to show how much of a sacrifice he made or to illustrate just how much he cared for these two women that lived above him. He gave all he had to give Johnsy a chance of living. This means there is more to the relationship of those in this building other then just as living together. He cares for them that is obvious but why. He seems to be harsh toward them and the only reason you could put on it is because they pay him t o be a model and he didn’t want to lose them in that regard. This still comes across as quit cold and vague, not really a good place to end a story. There is not much to work with to form an argument of why witch I take as it leaves it to the reader to justify his actions this allows each reader come up with a different reason that works for them. This makes it to where each reader walk away happy with the ending though this is rendered point less by the fact that one can simply see it when trying to look past the surface. The relationship between Johnsy and Sue is far closer than just that of roommates. One piece of evidence toward this is how offended Sue becomes when the doctor asks it there is a man in Johnsy’s life. This shows that Sue doesn’t want there to be and takes offence to the idea. Why would a roommate take offence to a stranger asking if there was man in their roommate’s life? This adds a sense of care toward Johnsy and possibly a want for her not to find a man. Later in the same statement Sue asked, â€Å"is a man worth† but catches herself, then just answers the doctor’s question. Showing she has a low worth of men and tends not to take them with much value. The doctor is asking on the grounds of trying to see if Johnsy has anything to live for. It seems Sue takes offence to the fact that she isn’t good enough to live for.. At one point in the story Johnsy is talking about how she can’t wait to die and Sue asks her,† What would I do without you†. This seems like she is more concerned than just with the next month’s rent. Another piece of evidence that Sue and Johnsy who are two woman living alone together at the turn of the century this story is set sometime during the 1890s. It’s extremely odd that two women of this time period would live together especially alone and without a man. There are a multiple times where Sue holds Johnsy, now this could be dismissed as her friend is dying but coupled with other evidence it is possible to conclude there is more going on. There is another part of the story where johnsy apologizes for how she treated Sue why she was sick. She is deeply apologetic and tends uses Sues pet name of Sudie for the first time. Their relationship is very intrinsic and has a romantic element to it. To be honest when I first skimmed this I thought it was a man who was sick and a woman he loved caring for him but when going through more in depth for my paper I realized it was two women. The argument they are more than roommates has much more weight than most would admit. This hits that they could be a romantic couple though this is never admitted. Though this could be taken in to account on why Sue stops herself from finishing her thought in front of the doctor and could add a new element of how Behrman protects these women. The evidence points one direction that is hard to ignore. The last point to focus on in this peace is that it a very negative tone despite the fact that the end of the story Johnsy lives. The first negative observation is when johnsy is wishing for death. This is a very negative thing when someone wishes for death it usually is a sign of great discomfort or a plea for help. Johnsy seems almost excited at the prospect of being done with this disease that is ravaging her body. The symbolism is also darker in nature comparing Johnsy to a fallen white statue is one such example. This paints a very sad picture that this poor girl is not long for this world. Another use of literary devices in a negative since is when pneumonia is personified as a man killing people left and right. This makes it seem as a serial killer rather than a disease. Some may argue that the ending is happy Johnsy lives but at what cost. Death in the end still takes a life of a man that gave everything to save a girl that had no hope in her own survival. There is a line in the story that Johnsy says when she realizes how glum her outlook has been that sums it up pretty well calling it a sin how she had been acting. Johnsy throughout the story demands things from Sue such as calling for the blinds to be opened so she can see the ivy vine. This shows that she wasn’t very nice to her in while she was sick. The doctor gives Johnsy a 10 to 1 chance this is glum news. Sue try’s to make it seem better by comparing it to going by new buildings in the city. Though this has little effect and is shot back down by Johnsy. Throughout the story dark tones make it seem miserable and when hope is given it is quickly shot back down. This sets a tone of negativity in the whole story. This tone helps draw the reader sown to a sad emotional state and tends for them to see Johnsy situation as hopeless. The stories points of analyses are that of their relationship being more then roommates, why Behrman painted the leaf, and the negative tone of the story. These all can be explored to a great depth and shown in many ways. The relationships of this story are what make it an interesting piece. This story has many layers and O’Henry has made a truly lasting story that has a value far beyond that of a usual short story that will insure this one lasting for ages.