critical analysis of "The Last Leaf" / Krystalle Natasha M. Mana

Krystalle Natasha M. Mana                                    December 05, 2019
11 – Onesta’                                          Ms. Rogielyn Baloto

“The Last Leaf”

By: O. Henry (1862-1910)

“The Last Leaf” is a short story by O. Henry that was published in 1907. William Sydney Porter, also known by his pen name O. Henry,  is an American short story writer. “The Last Leaf” is about a poor young woman who is seriously ill with Pneumonia, named Johnsy. Johnsy believes that when the leaves on the wall all fell down, she will also die. Her artist neighbor Behrman, tricks her by painting a leaf on the wall so that Johnsy would recover. Fortunately, Johnsy recovered but because of the twist that the author made Behrman the artist neighbor, caught Pneumonia while painting the leaves and died.

Living in the early 20th century at Greenwich Village are two young women artists, Sue and Johnsy. They met in May, six months previously, and decided to share a studio apartment.

Stalking their artist colony in November is “Mr. Pneumonia”. The story begins as Johnsy, near death from Pneumonia, lies in bed waiting for the last leaf of an ivy wine on the brick wall she spies through her window to fall. Under Sue and Johnsy’s apartment, there lived an old, frustrated man named, Behrman, who always claiming that he will paint a masterpiece one day. Behrman is so protective in the two girls that is why he so determined to see Johnsy and the vine. One night, a very awful storm, strong winds, and rains spatter against the windows so Sue decided to close the curtains and orders Johnsy to go to sleep. Johnsy insist on telling Sue to open the curtains so that Johnsy would see if the last leaf would fall but Sue won’t let her see it. After the awful storm, Sue and Johnsy were shocked because the last leaf is still there even though the storm was so strong that it can blow away all the branches of the trees. And because of that Johnsy gained her will to live and had a full-recovery in that whole day. One afternoon, a doctor talks to Sue saying that Mr. Behrman had pneumonia and was taken to the hospital to be comfortable in his last hours. But a janitor saw Berhman helpless, his clothes and shoes were soaked with wet water. The janitor also can’t figured out where Mr. Berhman went on that stormy night but Sue noticed that the lantern that was used for light was still lit, a ladder that has been moved, a messy used brushes, and a palette with mixed colors of green and yellow. The janitor told Sue to look out the window and asked why the last leaf is still there even though it is windy and told that it is Mr Behrman’s masterpiece. 

The story was good overall for me because it talks about hope of an ill person. The short story talks about how we should treasure life. The short story tells us that we always have chances in life and that we are not alone, we have friends and family who will always support us through the ups and downs. The short story depicts the beautiful bonds or relationship Johnsy and Sue has. The short story also shows us the undying love of Mr. Behrman to Sue and Johnsy. 

I recommend everyone to read “The Last Leaf” because there are so many values that you can get from this story. We can learn so many things. For me, this one is the most heart-touching story I ever heard. If you are a kind of reader who are interested in hopes and friendship then this story would be the best fit of your genre.