INTRODUCTION
'The Last Leaf' is a fine story by O. Henry where an old artist sacrifices his life to save the
life of a young girl. A girl called Johnsy is depressed and feel that she will die as soon as
the last leaf on an ivy would fall.
The old artist, Behrman, wants to save her. He goes out on a rainy night and paints a leaf
on the ivy tree. Seeing this leaf the next day, Johnsy regains interest in life and lives. But
poor Behrman dies of pneumonia. It is a story of great sacrifice.
CHARACTER SKETCHES
1. Behrman: Behrman is a 60-years-old painter. He lived on the ground floor of the
house where Sue and Johnsy lived. He had been thinking of painting a
masterpiece. Sue told him about the condition of Johnsy. Johnsy felt that she
would die, once the last leaf fell from the ivy creeper. Behrman thought of a plan
to save Johnsy. He went out in the rainy night and painted a picture of leaf on the
ivy. Johnsy saw the leaf the next morning and got back her will to live. But
Behrman died of pneumonia because he had been out all night in the cold. This
Behrman made the supreme sacrifice of giving up his life for the sake of another
person.
2. Johnsy: Johnsy was ill. She was under depression. She was a young artist who
lived with her friend Sue. Johnsy had the fancy idea that she would die once the
last leaf on the ivy creeper, outside her window, would fall down. The leaves were
falling down very fast. Only one leaf remained. She felt that the last leaf will fall in
the night and she would die. But Behrman went out in the cold night and painted
a leaf on the wall. Johnsy saw this leaf the next morning and got her will to live.
But her foolish attitude lead to the death of Behrman. She was a weak-hearted
woman.
Answer the following questions –
1. What is Johnsy's illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness
to live?
Ans. Johnsy, a from pneumonia. But later on she suffered from a misconception that
she would die as soon as the last leaf on the creeper would fall down. The medicine
had no effect on her. Her willingness to live could cure her.
2. Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among
teenagers?
Ans. Life has two aspects i.e. positive and negative. It depends upon us how we take
it. Nowadays it is very common that teenagers are getting depressed because of cut-
throat competition. On the other hand, a majority of teenagers who take life
positively and face difficulties boldly never lose hope and proceed further.
3. Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?
Ans. Behrman had a dream to paint a masterpiece in his life. He kept waiting for the
opportunity to give it a practical shape. Yes, he could materialize his dream when he
painted the last leaf of the ivy creeper.
4. What is Behrman's masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?
Ans. Behrman was a 60-year old artist who had a dream to paint a masterpiece. His
painting of an ivy leaf was his masterpiece which saved the life of Johnsy. It was
such a painting that it was not easy to make out whether the leaf was real or it was
just a painting. When Behrman died painting this life-saving painting, Sue called it a
masterpiece.
5. How did Behrman react to Johnsy's fancy? What sacrifice did he make for
her?
Ans. Behrman knew about Johnsy's fancy that she had established a link of her life
with the last leaf on the creeper. He had a feeling that the last leaf would surely fall
during a stormy and rainy night. He left the place and said nothing. In order to save
her life he decided to paint a leaf on the wall. He did it well keeping his life in danger.
He fell to pneumonia and died soon.
Value Based Question –
1. Negative attitude and pessimism can destroy everything. Describe what had
happen to Johnsy.
Ans. Johnsy was a young girl and lived with one of her friends. They were artists. She
was suffering from pneumonia. Her friend, Sue looked after her. She loved her very
much. The doctor kept visiting Johnsy and doing regular check-up. But there was no
improvement in her condition. Her condition went from bad to worse. Both the
doctor and Sue were worried. Later on, it was found that she was depressed. In that
state of mind she lost her interest in everything. She kept lying calm gazing through
the window. She did not like to live and suffered from the misconception that she
would die with the but in vain.
