Question

The Last Leaf explores the theme of Friendship and Self-sacrifice. Discuss this with close reference to O’Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf’.

Answer 1

O’Henry’s ‘The Last Leaf explores the theme of friendship and self-sacrifice. The story presents the deep and sincere friendship between sue and Johnsy, two string artists. Story also presents the self-sacrifice of Behrman for these artists.
Sue and Johnsy met each other in the month of May at table d’hote of an Eighth street ‘Delmonico’s. They found their taste in art, food and fashion common which instantly sparked a friendship and the two decided to share an apartment and open a joint studio. Their decision may initially have been a matter of need and mutual help in time of poverty, but they soon develop a profound relationship. Their friendship is marked by love, loyalty, sacrifice and sincerity for each other.
When Johnsy is down with pneumonia in the month of November, Sue attends to her day and night. This shows her eagerness to be with her friend through thick and thin. She spends her time nursing her ailing friend, Johnsy, even though she has to submit her drawings to the editor man the next day. Sue does not want that Johnsy should die and tries her best to comfort her during her illness.
When she came to know about the strange fancy of Johnsy that she will die as soon as the last ivy leaf falls then she lies to her that Johnsy’s chances to live were ten in one but in reality, it was one in ten. Sue tries her best to keep up Johnsy’s spirits. Sue tries to divert her friends' minds talking about clothes and fashion. It is the care and nursing of Sue which helps in Johnsys quick recovery.
Greater than this relationship is the one that Behraman shares with Sudie and Joanna. He considers himself as the mastiff in waiting to protect the two young artists in the studio above. When the old man gets to know about Johnsy’s strange fancy from Sue, he makes up his mind to do something to save the young girl’s life. He goes out in the heavy cold rain mingled with snow and paints a tiny leaf on the wall after the last leaf has fallen. In this process, he gets thoroughly drenched and icy cold. He suffers from an acute attack of pneumonia also. The doctor told Sue that there is no hope for Behrman to live. Behrman went to the hospital to be made more comfortable where he dies of his old age and weakness. Thus, the old and past sixty years in age artist sacrifices his own life to save Johnsy. The author praises the noble soul of this ordinary old man, who accomplished an extraordinary feat by sacrificing his life to save the life of another person.