The Last Leaf (Henry)

Disclaimer: This summary was generated by AI, so it may contain errors.

O. Henry

The Last Leaf

1907 

Summary of the book
from the Collection «The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories»

Microsummary: Two friends, one very ill, believe the last leaf of an ivy vine will determine her fate. An old artist paints the leaf on the wall, then dies of pneumonia. The leaf stays, and the sick girl recovers.

Sue and Johnsy were two young artists living in an old studio in Greenwich Village. Johnsy was very ill with pneumonia, and the doctor warned that her chances of survival were slim. Johnsy had given up hope and was certain that when the last leaf on the ivy vine outside her window fell, she too would die.

🧒🏼

Johnsy — a young female artist from California; suffering from pneumonia.

💁🏻‍♀️

Sue — Johnsy's friend from Maine and painting partner; strong, caring, and confident.

Sue enlisted the help of the old painter Behrman, who lived in the floor below them. Behrman was a failure in art and had been trying to paint his masterpiece for forty years. He was fiercely protective of the two young women and agreed to pose as the hermit-miner for Sue's drawing.

🧔🏻‍♂️

Mr. Behrman — an old artist living below Johnsy and Sue, fiercely loyal and protective of them.

That night a fierce storm blew, but the last leaf on the ivy vine still clung to its stem. Johnsy was determined to watch it fall, and Sue reluctantly raised the shade for her. The next morning, Johnsy was still alive, and the leaf was still there. She realized that her desire to die had been foolish and selfish and began to take an interest in life again.

Sue revealed to Johnsy that Behrman had died of pneumonia the day before, and that he had gone out in the storm the night before to paint the last ivy leaf onto the wall. His masterpiece was a sign to Johnsy that life was worth living, and that she should not give up hope. With good care, Johnsy eventually recovered.