The last leaf by O.Henry Plot Summary

About the Poet

O. Henry (1862-1910) wrote short stories in the United States. His tales are renowned for their unexpected conclusions. His writings contain narrative twists or unexpected shifts in the plot and are based on his experiences in Texas and New York. "The Gift of the Magi" and "The Ransom of Red Chief" are his most well-known tales.

The Last Leaf Introduction

The short narrative demonstrates how diseases were prevalent in New York because of congested neighborhoods, urbanization, and poor living circumstances. This story by O. Henry is romantic and has a tragic conclusion, just like his other works. O. Henry wrote a short story titled The Last Leaf. It relates to the tale of an elderly artist who gives a young artist suffering from pneumonia the will to live. The elderly artist becomes ill while trying to save her and passes away.

What is the Main Idea of The Last Leaf?

O. Henry's short story "The Last Leaf" has the strength of hope and faith as its central theme. Johnsy can recuperate since she thinks the painted leaf is genuine and hasn't fallen, and she no longer thinks she'll pass away when the last leaf falls.

What is the Central Conflict in The Last Leaf?

Sue and Johnsy argue over Johnsy's habit of staring out the window at the vine as it sheds its leaves. Johnsy is waiting for the last leaf to fall so she can pass away, despite Sue's requests for her to look aside from the window.

Summary of the Last Leaf

Two female painters are the subject of the narrative. Sue and Joanna, or "Johnsy," are the women's names. They are among a 'colony' of artists living in Greenwich Village, New York.

Johnsy contracts pneumonia one particularly chilly winter, and it appears that the illness will claim her life. Johnsy may have a 10% chance of surviving, the doctor says to Sue, but she needs a reason to live that will give her the willpower to fight back and recover fully. He inquires whether Johnsy is dating anyone; Sue replies that she is not.

When the final leaf of the year drops from the ivy vine outside her window, Johnsy believes she will pass away. Sue, who is trying to aid her buddy, is very frustrated since she has accepted that she will die.

The flat at the top of the building is home to Sue and Johnsy. Behrman, a male artist in his fifties, resides on the main floor. He has a resemblance to Moses from Michelangelo's well-known sculpture. He often claims to be on the verge of creating his "masterpiece," but he has never done so. In a nutshell, he is a failed artist.

Behrman laughs at Johnsy's superstitious notion that she would die when the last leaf falls from the vine when Sue tells him about it. However, he consents when Sue asks him to visit and pose for her (he frequently does this for other artists).

The following morning, Johnsy requests that Sue raise the blinds so she can check the ivy vine to see if the last leaf has fallen. However, when the blinds are raised, they discover that the final leaf is still clinging to the branch. The final leaf remains on the vine as the day gives way to darkness. After recognizing how selfish it was to let Sue down, Johnsy apologizes to her. She interprets the ivy leaf's tenacity as a sign that she should not have been so ready to embrace death.

When the doctor arrives, he declares that Johnsy's condition has significantly improved. He is also here to see Behrman, who is downstairs and has been hospitalized with pneumonia. He does pass away shortly after. Sue reveals to Johnsy in the story's concluding paragraph that Berhman painted a fake ivy leaf and affixed it to the wall's vine the night the actual last leaf dropped to the ground.

That leaf, which was close enough to a real leaf to pass for it, is his final creation and his masterpiece. He developed pneumonia and passed away as a result of walking outside into the cold to paint the leaves.

The Themes in The Last Leaf

According to the last leaf summary moral lesson, some important themes are mentioned.

• Hope and Hopelessness

The story's overarching theme is hope. The author wants to emphasize how crucial it is for a person to have hope and willpower. When Johnsy notices that the leaf supposed to determine her fate is not falling, she is given new hope. This demonstrates how a person's lamp of hope can be lit by even a small deed.

• Sacrifice

The story's sacrifice is yet another central motif. To provide Johnsy with some hope, Behrman gives up his life. Johnsy believes she will pass away after the last leaf falls, and he knows this. He gives his life as a sacrifice in order to complete his final masterpiece so that Johnsy may live her life and have hope, he painted the ivy leaf on the tree.

Central Idea of the Last Leaf

The lesson from Last Leaf teaches readers not to give up on things too easily. We must all be courageous in the face of obstacles and difficult situations. The young artist Johnsy lost all hope and started to only think about dying when she became ill with pneumonia in this particular narrative. She believes that she will pass away when the last leaf on the ivy vine falls. She only found new hope after being duped by an elderly artist who painted the final leaf on the wall. Johnsy soon began to feel better and had fresh optimism.

Characters

The story revolves around two main characters: Sue and Johnsy and a surprise character, Mr. Berhman. Sue is an optimistic and caring budding artist who takes care of Johnsy during her illness. She maintains a brave face in front of Johnsy to help her come out of the sickness.

Young artist Johnsy aspires to paint the Bay of Naples in the future. She has pneumonia and is no longer motivated to live. She is convinced that when the last leaf from the ivy vine outside her window falls, she will pass away. The same flat was home to both.

Conclusion

O. Henry's short story The Last Leaf was first published in his anthology The Trimmed Lamp and Other Stories in 1907. The main character of "The Last Leaf" is Johnsy, an impoverished young woman who is suffering from pneumonia. She thinks she will pass away when the ivy vine on the wall outside her window loses all of its leaves.