The Last Leaf (Henry): Difference between revisions
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{{Summary | {{Summary | ||
| Title = The Last Leaf | | Title = The Last Leaf | ||
| Author = O. Henry | | Author = O. Henry | ||
| Literary form = short story | | Literary form = short story | ||
| Year of publication = 1907 | | Year of publication = 1907 | ||
| Microsummary = | | Microsummary = A young woman, ill with pneumonia, believed she would die when the last leaf fell from a nearby ivy vine; an old artist painted a leaf on the wall, saving her life but sacrificing his own. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Start of text}} | {{Start of text}} | ||
In a small district west of Washington Square, two young artists named Sue and Johnsy shared a studio. They became friends after discovering their shared interests in art and fashion. However, in November, Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia, a disease that was ravaging the city. The doctor informed Sue that Johnsy's chances of survival were slim, as she had lost her will to live. | |||
{{Character | {{Character | ||
| Name = | | Name = Sue | ||
| Description = young | | Description = young artist; caring, supportive friend | ||
| Emoji = | | Emoji = 👩🏻🎨 | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Character | {{Character | ||
| Name = | | Name = Johnsy (Joanna) | ||
| Description = young | | Description = young artist; ill with pneumonia; fragile, pessimistic | ||
| Emoji = | | Emoji = 👩🏻🦰 | ||
}} | }} | ||
As Johnsy lay in bed, she became fixated on an ivy vine outside her window, counting the leaves as they fell. She believed that when the last leaf fell, she would die. | |||
Johnsy | {{Quote | ||
| Text = When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you? | |||
| Context = Johnsy says this to Sue while looking at the remaining leaves on the ivy vine. She believes that her life is connected to the leaves and that she will die when the last one falls. | |||
}} | |||
Sue enlisted the help of an old | Sue tried to distract her friend and even enlisted the help of their neighbor, an old painter named Behrman, who had never achieved success in his career. | ||
{{Character | {{Character | ||
| Name = Behrman | | Name = Behrman | ||
| Description = | | Description = elderly, failed artist; gruff, protective, self-sacrificing | ||
| Emoji = | | Emoji = 🧓🏻♂️ | ||
}} | }} | ||
One stormy night, the last leaf remained on the vine, defying the wind and rain. The next morning, Johnsy saw the leaf and realized that she had been foolish to think her life was tied to the vine. She regained her will to live and began to recover. | |||
{{Quote | |||
| Text = I've been a bad girl, Sudie. Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin to want to die. | |||
| Context = Johnsy says this to Sue after realizing that the last leaf has not fallen, despite the harsh weather. She sees it as a sign that she should fight for her life and not give up. | |||
}} | |||
The | The doctor confirmed that Johnsy was out of danger and only needed proper nutrition and care to fully recover. | ||
However, they soon learned that Behrman had died of pneumonia after being found in his room, soaked and cold. It was discovered that he had painted the last leaf on the wall outside Johnsy's window, creating a realistic and enduring image that gave her the hope she needed to survive. In the end, Behrman's final act of kindness became his long-awaited masterpiece. | |||
{{Quote | |||
| Text = Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece — he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell. | |||
| Context = Sue reveals to Johnsy that the last leaf on the wall was actually painted by Behrman, who sacrificed his own life to give Johnsy the will to live. This realization changes Johnsy's perspective on life. | |||
}} | |||
{{End of text}} | {{End of text}} | ||
Revision as of 18:37, 26 May 2023
In a small district west of Washington Square, two young artists named Sue and Johnsy shared a studio. They became friends after discovering their shared interests in art and fashion. However, in November, Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia, a disease that was ravaging the city. The doctor informed Sue that Johnsy's chances of survival were slim, as she had lost her will to live.
As Johnsy lay in bed, she became fixated on an ivy vine outside her window, counting the leaves as they fell. She believed that when the last leaf fell, she would die.
When the last one falls I must go, too. I've known that for three days. Didn't the doctor tell you?
Sue tried to distract her friend and even enlisted the help of their neighbor, an old painter named Behrman, who had never achieved success in his career.
One stormy night, the last leaf remained on the vine, defying the wind and rain. The next morning, Johnsy saw the leaf and realized that she had been foolish to think her life was tied to the vine. She regained her will to live and began to recover.
I've been a bad girl, Sudie. Something has made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin to want to die.
The doctor confirmed that Johnsy was out of danger and only needed proper nutrition and care to fully recover.
However, they soon learned that Behrman had died of pneumonia after being found in his room, soaked and cold. It was discovered that he had painted the last leaf on the wall outside Johnsy's window, creating a realistic and enduring image that gave her the hope she needed to survive. In the end, Behrman's final act of kindness became his long-awaited masterpiece.
Ah, darling, it's Behrman's masterpiece — he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell.