The Last Leaf (Henry): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 03:32, 28 December 2022

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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.

Two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, lived in a small studio in a quaint district.

🧒🏼

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

💁🏻‍♀️

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

One day, Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia and was bedridden. The doctor told Sue that Johnsy had a one in ten chance of survival, but that her chances would be better if she wanted to live.

Johnsy had become fixated on an ivy vine outside her window, and believed that when the last leaf fell, she would die. Sue tried to distract her, but Johnsy was determined to watch the last leaf fall.

Sue enlisted the help of an old artist, Behrman, who lived in the same building.

🧔🏼‍♂️

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

He was a failure in art, but he agreed to pose as a hermit-miner for Sue's drawing. When they looked out the window, they saw that the last leaf was still clinging to the vine.

The next morning, Johnsy asked Sue to raise the shade so she could see the leaf. To their surprise, it was still there. Johnsy realized that she had been wrong to want to die, and asked Sue to bring her a mirror and some pillows so she could sit up.

The next day, the doctor told Sue that Johnsy was out of danger. Later, Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had died of pneumonia in the hospital. She then revealed that Behrman had painted the last leaf on the wall the night before, so that Johnsy would have hope and want to live.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 {{Start of text}}
-Two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, have set up a studio in a small district west of Washington Square.
+Two young artists, Sue and Johnsy, lived in a small studio in a quaint district.
 {{Character
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 }}
-One day, Johnsy falls ill with pneumonia and is bedridden. The doctor tells Sue that Johnsy has a one in ten chance of survival, but that her chances are better if she wants to live.
+One day, Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia and was bedridden. The doctor told Sue that Johnsy had a one in ten chance of survival, but that her chances would be better if she wanted to live.
-Johnsy believes that she will die when the last leaf of an ivy vine outside her window falls. She has been counting the leaves and there are only five left. Sue is worried about Johnsy's morbid thoughts and tries to distract her by asking her to promise not to look out the window until Sue is done with her drawing.
+Johnsy had become fixated on an ivy vine outside her window, and believed that when the last leaf fell, she would die. Sue tried to distract her, but Johnsy was determined to watch the last leaf fall.
-Sue goes to ask an old painter, Behrman, to pose as a hermit-miner for her drawing.
+Sue enlisted the help of an old artist, Behrman, who lived in the same building.
 {{Character
 | Name = Mr. Behrman
 | Description = an old artist living below Johnsy and Sue, fiercely loyal and protective of them
-| Emoji = 🧔🏻‍♂️
+| Emoji = 🧔🏼‍♂️
 }}
-Behrman scoffs at Johnsy's belief and agrees to pose. When Sue and Behrman return to the studio, Johnsy is asleep. Sue pulls the shade down to the window-sill and Behrman poses in the other room.
+He was a failure in art, but he agreed to pose as a hermit-miner for Sue's drawing. When they looked out the window, they saw that the last leaf was still clinging to the vine.
-The next morning, Johnsy wakes up and orders Sue to pull the shade up. To their surprise, the last leaf of the ivy vine is still clinging to the wall. Johnsy believes that the leaf is staying to show her how wrong she was to want to die. She decides to live and orders Sue to bring her a mirror, pillows, and some broth.
+The next morning, Johnsy asked Sue to raise the shade so she could see the leaf. To their surprise, it was still there. Johnsy realized that she had been wrong to want to die, and asked Sue to bring her a mirror and some pillows so she could sit up.
-The next day, the doctor tells Sue that Johnsy is out of danger. Later, Sue tells Johnsy that Behrman died of pneumonia in the hospital. She reveals that Behrman had gone out in the stormy night to paint the last ivy leaf on the wall, so that Johnsy would not give up hope.
+The next day, the doctor told Sue that Johnsy was out of danger. Later, Sue told Johnsy that Behrman had died of pneumonia in the hospital. She then revealed that Behrman had painted the last leaf on the wall the night before, so that Johnsy would have hope and want to live.
 {{End of text}}