Name: Ma Thi Xuan Dao Code: 095701H808 Class: AV09A3 Shift: 4

AMERICAN LITERATURE

Admittedly, Ive never loved reading literature works hundreds of pages long. Therefore, short stories seem to be the better solution for me. Among those I learned and read from high school, The last leaf, the most famous one by the American writer O Henry impresses me the most by its special plot and unexpected ending. Humanitarian value is obviously shown in the story, that is love can appear and grow strongly between poor and unluck people. The last leaf by O Henry is an interesting short story about the poor artists named Johnsy, Sue and Behrman. Pneumonia and poverty loses Johnsys health and the will to live. Stay on bed, stare the leaves of an ivy vine outside the window and believe that she will die as soon as the last leaf falls. Sue, her friend, is worried and reveals her fear about Johnsy to Berman, their neighbor and an old artist. The next morning, when Johnsy and Sue look out of the window, theyre surprised to see there is still one ivy leaf left on the wall after a heavy rainy night. That day, she insits it will fall but it doesn't. Johnsy thinks about her situation and is convinced that the leaf stays there to show she will not die, and that she sinned in wanting to die. She regains her will to live, and makes a full recovery throughout the day.

Meanwhile, Behrmans inflected with pneumonia and dies the same day. Later, Sue discovers how he became ill. She tells Johnsy that on the stormy night when the last leaf was about to fall, he took a ladder, climbed the wall, and painted a true masterpiece - a picture of the last leaf on the brick wall. Humanitarian value most specified is in Mr Behrman and his masterpiece. He is an old and frustrated artist who earns living as a model to young artists and always dreams of painting a masterpiece but never succeeds. And when he knows about Johnsys idiotic idea of death and visits her with Sue, they peered out the window fear fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking.; Behrman, in his old blue shirt, took his seat as the hermit miner on an upturned kettle for a rock. Just described in some basic lines but his image still remains in heart of people. Is it likely that at that moment, he sees the last leaf drops or will with severity of the storm? What can he do with fragile Johnsy when she wakes up the next morning and sees the last leaf fall? No one knows what he cherishes in his quiet look and motionless pose. The fierce little old man regards himself protective of the two young artists Sue and Johnsy. To him, they become his beloved relatives for the rest of his lonesome life through being a model for Sue or small talks about his masterpiece. And theres not a single word in the story saying what he does after coming back his apartment. No one can imagine the actions he can make but then, to Sue, Johnsy and readers are entirely astonished at his secret job in the howling wind and rain. He, on his own, with a lantern, a ladder dragged from its place, a palette with some brushes, accomplishes his lifetime masterpiece a leaf. How brave and persevered the little old man Behrman is to deal

with the fierce rainy night. Especially, drawing a small object like the leaf in the severe weather without any help seems to double the difficult. The leaf looks real, still dark green near its stem, with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, which proves the old artists kind-heartedness, enthusiasm and talent. But the most important point is that this failure in art artist has achieved his noble purpose. The last leaf clinging to its stem on the wall in spite of the heavey storm totally changes Johnsys attitude, Its a sin to die and she begins to think optimistically Sudie, some day I hope to paint the Bay of Naples. The leaf is like a miracle made by a love God named Behrman, supporting energy and faith in life to Johnsy, ragging her to escape out of disease and death. Instead, unfortunately, Behrman comes down with pneumonia and as theres no cure to be done for him, he is taken to the hospital to be made comfortable in his final hours. It turns out that who scoffed terribly at softness in any one can sacrifice his own life for another person. Relating to the real life, we should never jugde someone by what they appear to be, but by their actions. Behrman acts fierce and aggressive but his actions show how much he cares for Johnsy. The last leaf is the proof of love and determination to save the young and talented artist Johnsy. Its likely that Behrman doesnt know it is his last painting but he has actually and finally made a masterpiece in hearts of readers because that leaf is his ultimate wish to sustain Johnsys hope to live although he has to make great sacrifice, his life. The act of drawing of the last leaf, shown by Sues word but depicted directly, amazes all the readers. Johnsy doesnt know the truth until she makes a full recovery and we believe that Johnsy will always be grateful to the artificial leaf, to the noble lie, to the elevated heart and unimaginable self-sacrifice of the poor and old artist.

Like Behrman, Sue regards Johnsy as her relative, a sister of her although theyre not flesh and blood. Shes always by Johnsys side and persuades her to have faith in life when shes ill with pneumonia. Johnsys pessimistic view of life When the last one falls I must go, too. Ive known that for three days. Didnt the doctor tell you? squeezes Sues heart although she tries to act strong before Johnsy. She loves Johnsy so much that she cant imagine what her life will be after Johnsy dies, Think of me, if you wont think of yourself. What would I do?. The encouragement word fulfills love to make Johnsy understand that she is unlackable and irreplaceable in Sues heart. O Henry uses no words to describe Sues feeling when seeing the last leaf still hanging on the wall but we can still imagine her cheerful face. She appears very happy and relieved when Johnsy agrees to fight her way back into life and wants a broth. With honest friendship, Sue plays a rather vital role in helping Johnsy to regain her faith in life. Sues telling about Behrmans death to Johnsy shows her gratefulness and she wants to remind Johnsy of the admirable artist with his noble sacrifice. Besides the artistry to depict the characters psychological happenings and personality, O Henry succeeds in constructing the two opposing and interesting situations. The story begins with the dull atmosphere caused by Johnsys surrender to disease but in time, her getting better and regaining the will to live relieves the readers anxiety. On the contrary, healthy Berman dying from pneumonia in a sudden touches us deeply. The story is about the process from life to death of the old artist to pull the young artist to life from death. This is a moving message about the existence of love and hope between the poor and luckless people. Although facing many deprivations, lossess and injustice during the lifetime,

the characters try to remain the beauty of soul, that are optimism, hope of life, love and caring given to each other without any return. O Henry talentedly inspires and moves us with the unforseen situations.