Nguyễn Hồ Hồng Phúc – Assignment 2

Write a well-organized essay of at least 300 words analyzing a theme you are very interested in
in The Last Leaf by O. Henri? 

The Last Leaf is a short story written by American writer O. Henry, which explorers the treasury of life
and how hope is a powerful agent of change. 
Set in Greenwich Village, a bohemian neighborhood in New York City, the story unravels through the
eyes of two young ‘starving’ artists, Sue and Johnsy. They live and work together in an inexpensive
studio at the top of a run-down apartment building. When winter falls, Johnsy becomes grievously ill
with a case of pneumonia. She sinks into despair about her chances of survival and loses all hope to
achieve her dreams. Johnsy believes that when the last leaf of the ivy vine on the wall outside her
window falls to the ground, she will die. Johnsy’s desire to “go sailing down” like one of the leaves
demonstrates her fading hope and her loss of the will to live. The leaf is a symbol of despair that
turns into a symbol of hope. Johnsy thinks the ivy leaf stands for her life, slowly falling away. When
the leaf remains, however, it becomes a symbol of hope for her.
It is Sue who remains hopeful for both of them. She is the beacon of light for her friend. Sue
represents hope and friendship in this story. She cooks, cleans and cares for her friend in her illness.
Sue tells Johnsy that her idea of dying when the last leaf falls is "nonsense" and makes an effort to
change her friend's mind by giving her hope. She refused to believe the dull-witted notion of her
friend and reinforces her filling life in her again. As Sue knows how important it is that Johnsy not lose
hope, she conceals the news of the doctor’s pessimistic prognosis. She tells her friend that she’s
being silly and that the doctor has given her a good chance of recovery (which is a lie).
Another example that highlights hope is what keeps dreams alive is Behrman, who has struggled as
an artist. For the artists in “The Last Leaf,” their hope for the future centers on fulfilling their life’s
purpose: painting a masterpiece. “Some day I vill baint my masterpiece,” he says,” and ve shall all go
away. Gott! Yes.”, Behrman finds courage and hope for himself and his neighbors in the art he will
someday create. And hope is what helped Behrman achieve immoral greatness through his art.
Behrman’s masterpiece - the painting of the last leaf outside Johnsy’s window, gives Johnsy hope. In
a way, then, Behrman uses his art to transfer his own hope to Johnsy, which helped her reappear
from the darkness of doubt and depression.
Hope is what threads through this moving story, the love that one young lady has for another, along
with the love from one grumpy little old man. The power of the hope that these characters hold onto
throughout O. Henry's narrative acts as an antidote to Johnsy's deadly illness.