The Last Leaf Essay Questions

How do the setting and the fact that Sue, Johnsy, and Behrman are artists relate to the themes of "The Last Leaf"?

O. Henry set the story in the artistic enclave of Greenwich Village and populated the story with artists because the life-affirming significance of art is one of the story's primary themes. Johnsy and Sue become friends because they were both drawn to New York to pursue careers in art; similarly, their downstairs neighbor Behrman has endeavored his entire life to paint a masterpiece, although he never begins the work and is considered by most to be a gin-soaked, eccentric failure. This odd cast of characters have found a home in New York City's Greenwich Village because it is appealing to artists who need cheap places with adequate light to work by. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the characters' passion for art has united also in their fates: Johnsy survives her illness because of Behrman's artistic intervention, and Behrman, painting a leaf so realistic that Johnsy is fooled, actualizes his goal of one day painting a masterpiece. While art saves Johnsy's life, art bestows meaning on Behrman's life after his death.

What is the significance of willpower in "The Last Leaf"?

"The Last Leaf" explores the theme of willpower through Johnsy's ironic relationship to her will to die. Because she believes she will die when the last leaf falls, the doctor gives a pessimistic prognosis, as he has learned that the strength of a patient's will to live greatly determines the effectiveness of medical treatment. Johnsy's willpower proves ironic, however, as she sets her will toward the goal of dying when the last leaf falls, and thus when it appears never to fall, she lives long enough for her body to recover. By the end of the story, it is evident that Behrman knew he could exploit her romantic attachment to the last leaf by painting a fake version of the leaf.

Before introducing any characters, O. Henry begins "The Last Leaf" with a humorous anecdote about the winding streets of Greenwich Village. What purpose does this opening paragraph serve to the main story?

At the beginning of "The Last Leaf," O. Henry describes the odd angles of Greenwich Village, concluding with this joke: "An artist once discovered a valuable possibility in this street. Suppose a collector with a bill for paints, paper and canvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himself coming back, without a cent having been paid on account!" While the anecdote may appear to be irrelevant to the main story, with it O. Henry signals to the reader that irony will be important to the narrative. This anecdote within the greater story contains an ironic reversal of expectations, as the bill collector is so lost in the confusing maze he leaves having failed to collect the money he came for. With this joke, O. Henry establishes that Greenwich Village is a place in which strange and unexpected ironies may flourish, and thus primes the reader for the ironic death of Behrman that serves as the main story's conclusion.