2. The Last Leaf
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| O Henry |
Questions & Answers
(Or)
2. Justify the statement “A diseased mind is even more harmful than the actual disease itself” with reference to O. Henry’s The Last Leaf.
O. Henry was an American short story writer. His stories have the ironic endings. They belong to the American common man of the 20th century. The story Last Leaf is with affection, sacrifice and friendship.
Johnsy and Sue were artists maintaining a studio in Newyork. Those days Johnsy was with pneumonia and she was afraid of the disease. She believed that the disease would take her life. Sue was hopeful of her friend’s survival. She was taking care of her. While drawing pictures she took old Mr. Behrman as her model paint. He was a drunkard but wanted to become a noted painter. He used to say that he would great a master piece. But everytime he failed because of his habit and health.
That day Sue told Behrman about the illhealth of Johnsy and her fear. Johnsy was looking through the window. She could see an old vine creeper on the other wall. The leaves of the plant were falling down and so she thought that her days were also being counted. It was her firm opinion that she would die as the last leaf falls down. Behrman come to know this from Sue. He could not accept the notion of Johnsy.
That night there was one leaf and Johnsy said that the last leaf would fall down by the next morning and that she would also die. Sue said that it was wrong. The doctor visited and said that Johnsy was completely alright. The last leaf did not fall down. It was hanging over there. She had some courage. The doctor said that Behrman was dead. Sue explained that Behrman painted the picture of the leaf on the wall and it saved her life. The last leaf was Behrman’s master piece. Behrman sacrificed his life painting the leaf in wind and the rain9. His leaf saved Johnsy and thus it became a master piece.
