The Hidden Meaning of the Last Leaf
by Catherine Casio of Grade 11 Onesta'
“The Last Leaf” a short story by O. Henry, a pen name of William Sydney Porter, is an amazing story for it tells such a wonderful message about life and different struggles. His main point is how we should treasure and value life as our own destiny and journey. The flow of the study is unprecedented, and that is what makes it unique. The author showed a different kind of perspective when it comes to viewing life and death situations. From the title, you would never know that what lies behind it was something deep and significant. The story began with an imaginative place where artistic views lie, and how simple it can be. Johnsy, the girl affected by pneumonia, awaits her death - which she believed is through the judgment of the leaves on the ivy vine. She patiently stares at the leaves as it falls one by one. Sue, her friend, on the other hand, believed that the leaves have nothing to do with Johnsy’s life, encourages her to be positive, as a good friend, she called Mr. Behrman, a self-proclaimed magnificent yet frustrated painter who awaits his masterpiece. Mr. Behrman then went to the place of his masterpiece. As Johnsy loses hope and begins to see the last leaf left, she firmly believed that she is going to die. As the storm passed, she saw the last leaf, still staying strong, still connected to its stem and still healthy, she had hope. Without her knowledge that it was Mr. Berhman who painted it, the old man had died, after catching pneumonia too.
There are certain things the author wanted to share: first is the significance of life and death. Life, without knowing, could be playing with you, Life is very valuable that it costs more than anything, which is why we should value it. Death, as it seems, is inevitable, for it always ends there. Second: being positive and negative at the same time. Johnsy was so sure that if the last leaf falls, she, too, will be gone, but Sue believed nothing and instead, she positively thought that Johnsy is going to live long. This also showed the love and friendship as the foundation of each other. Mr. Behrman, on the other hand, became a symbol of sacrifice. Not literally but spiritually, since he was the one who gave hope to Johnsy and later on, died.
What I like about the story is that it shows how life could be so full of surprises and challenges. It showed the superiority of faith in life which makes us believe in possibilities of new hope. For me, the author wanted to portray real-life situations that anyone could face. A reality in which, is present in today’s generation. O. Henry also showed the bond, the friendship of two friends. The optimistic side of the friendship helped in able for each other to survive. The leaves on the ivy vine represent life. The falling of leaves was the years and time a person has spent and the last leaf that was going to fall is like the near-death experience we could be facing.
Reading this short story makes you open to more opinions and perspectives about life. It makes you know the value of life and the sacrifices one is willing to make. There are certain symbols with hidden meanings that only you could define. Those symbols with hidden meanings are significant to our everyday situations and problems. Lastly, I really believe that things happen for a reason, we may or may not know.
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