Literary Analysis Essay

Alyssa Camille G.
Navarro October 14, 2019
Humss 12-Rizal
Literary Analysis Essay
The Last Leaf is a very poignant story were it is all about art, the joys and sorrows of
artists and the importance of the sacrifices they make for it. My opinion is that O. Henry's
main theme woven throughout this touching story is the importance of art in human life.
The last leaf that Old Behrman painted on the wall is his masterpiece. It takes great
strength of character for the old man to go out there in the freezing weather and stand
precariously on a tall ladder while he uses his paints and brushes and all his accumulated
artistic skill to create a multi-colored leaf on the brick wall.
It is a true work of art because he puts his feelings into his work, and he
communicates these feelings to the sick girl named Johnsy, giving her the strength to go
on living. Art is something that gives people the strength to go on living in spite of all the
"slings and arrows of outrageous fortune." Johnsy herself is an artist. So is Sue. They live
in an art colony in New York City. O. Henry was an artist too, and he must have felt that his
mission as a writer was to provide amusement, hope, and cheer to the multitudes of
struggling humanity. The passage through life is hard on all of us. Writers, musicians, and
painters make it a little easier. That's about all.The story explores the question of what
motivates a person to choose hope over a defeatist attitude. When Johnsy is stricken with
pneumonia, she feels both life and hope draining from her. She is certain she will die soon
and tells Sue, "When the last leaf falls, I must go, too." She has forgotten the dreams she
had of painting the Bay of Naples. She has forgotten even the importance of
herrelationship with Sue. But when she believes she sees the last leaf clinging to the tree,
her hope returns. "Something has made that last leaf stay here," Johnsy tells Sue at the end
of the story. The fact that the leaf is actually just a painting doesn't matter. As Behrman
has anticipated, it serves its purpose in changing Johnsy's mind about dying.Behrman is a
foil to Johnsy—a character who helps to define another character by showing opposite
traits. Johnsy is young with a future ahead if she can only recover from her illness; he is an
elderly alcoholic. He also holds onto hope where Johnsy has given up: the hope that he will
one day paint his masterpiece. With the painting of the last leaf, he fulfills his dream and
restores Johnsy's life while losing his own.The idea that friendship makes sacrifice
worthwhile is a major theme of "The Last Leaf." The self-sacrificing Sue toils to help her
sick companion as the elderly Behrman paints in the rain and snow to save Johnsy's life.
Both of them fearfully watch the clock, hoping for a miracle.When Johnsy gets sick, Sue is
ready to do anything to help her. She tries to keep Johnsy's spirits up by singing in her
room. She coaxes her to eat. She takes time out for her own painting, but only so that she
can sell her painting and earn money to help Johnsy. Finally, she pours her heart out to her
elderly neighbor, Behrman.Johnsy's illness and the idea of her death make Behrman angry.
With Sue, he spends the night worrying, staring out the window. He may not have
accomplished much in life, but he is a generous man. He dreams of painting a masterpiece
so that he may take his friends somewhere warmer. Finally, he decides to sacrifice his own
health and life by going out into the bitter cold and rain to help his friend. The concept of
worth is touched on when the doctor asks if there is "anything worth being troubled about?
A man?" Sue quickly responds, "Is a man worth—No, doctor." But Behrman turns out to be a
man worth "being troubled about," though for his friendship and not as a romantic
partner.
O. Henry begins his story not with pneumonia walking about Greenwich Village, but
with a hypothetical painter walking the twisty streets. Next he tells of the many artists
who live there. Then he introduces the reader to two specific artists, Sue and Johnsy,
drawn to one another through art. Only after all the stage is set does he introduce the
subject of pneumonia. That's because this isn't a story about pneumonia. It's a story about
art, the people who create it, and the way it can—in this story—literally save a life.The
importance of art is threaded throughout the story. When the doctor asks Sue what might
be "troubling" Johnsy, Sue mentions art. Johnsy, she says, always wanted to go to Italy and
paint the Bay of Naples. The doctor dismisses this notion. To him, a man of science, art
isn't an important enough reason to live. He suggests romance or perhaps new clothing as
better substitutes. But, to Johnsy, there is nothing more worth troubling over than art. She
has come all the way from California to be an artist in New York. The author's way of
signaling her hope has returned is to have her say "I want to paint the Bay of
Naples."Behrman has "always talked of painting a great picture, a masterpiece," despite his
lack of success. As voiced by Sue, the leaf he paints to allow Johnsy to live another day is
this "great masterpiece." It helps Johnsy live in order to paint again.

Literary Analysis Essay

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Literary Analysis Essay

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Literary Analysis Essay

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alyssa Camille G.

Navarro October 14, 2019

Literary Analysis Essay

You might also like