Write critical analysis of The Last Leaf.

Ans.

The Last Leaf, a marvelous story by O’ Henry, depicts the treasury of life and the inevitability of faith to tackle the hindrances we battle through our life. The value of the life is the cynosure of the story where all things go back and revolve around it. The sequence of events is smoothly carved in with the supporting details. The story starts with a whimsical setting called the ‘places and the description of the present situation of Johnsy, the main character. The melodramatic and picturesque setting of the story connects to the negative status of Johnsy facing life and death subject matter. The setting also helps to describe the resources at hand to ‘combat the pneumonia mentioned later in the story because they are in a small district where they find themselves unable to treat it effectively with traditional methods.

The story begins as Johnsy, a young girl victimized by pneumonia, lies in bed waiting for the last leaf of an ivy vine on the brick wall she spies through her window, to fail. She watches each leaf fall. She is very pessimistic about her health and says that with the fall of the last leaf, she will die. Mr. Behrman, an old man considers himself as a frustrated but magnificent painter who is just waiting for the right opportunity to create his first masterpiece. He daubs the last leaf on the wall after the real one falls. At the end. he is able to finish his masterpiece, a real one not because it is fabulous but it serves as a tree of hope for Johnsy to fight against what many believe as an unbeatable illness. Then he catches pneumonia and dies.

The Last Leaf is the true depiction of O’ Henry’s writing traits’ skillful plot and twist ending. As the story moves on, the reader cannot except such a heroic act from Mr. Behrman who sacrifices his life and makes a special appearance in the end to show the sacrificial masterpiece. The leaf becomes his masterpiece because he paints it with the passion to save a life, the courage and determination to make an art not to prove himself but to help others prove that life is something to enjoy and fight for.

The action of Mr. Behrman appears to be chivalric in nature, thus, forming the major theme of the story: theme of the sincere friendship and the selfless sacrifice. He risks his life for Johnsy. He sacrifices his life so that she may not die of pessimism and disbelief. Sue. friend of Johnsy, becomes the representation of sincere friendship. She always stays home and does whatever she can to keep very good care of Johnsy.

Imagery employed in The Last Leaf whether it is sight imagery or sound imagery go hand in go with the theme of death and dying. It helps to set the mood, and tone of the story that assists in imposing the author’s theme and motive upon the reader. An example of sight imagery is how Johnsy seems to feel about the ivy vine outside her window, she feels as though the leaves on the vine are her clock to death. The sound and touch imagery is revealed when Johnsy and Sue both describe the howling wind outside as “beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that hand endured through the livelong night, there yet stood out against the brick wall one ivy leaf.” The images such as ‘a bare, dreary yard’ and a persistent, cold rain’ enhance the effect of something unwelcoming in the situation.

O’ Henry in his artistic and unique style of writing brings home the idea how a person, no matter, how hopeless he/she is, can become a symbol of hope and courage to others. Hence. The Last Leaf, the story of passion, hope and personal sacrifice, inculcates the spirit of selfless sacrifice and optimism in its readers.