The Ivy Leaf Remains (Situational Irony)
Contrary to Johnsy and Sue's expectations, when they raise the window shade they discover that a lone ivy leaf has survived the night of persistent rain, wind, and snow. In this example of situational irony, the characters' and the reader's expectations are undermined by the miraculous persistence of the leaf. The irony is replicated the following morning, when the leaf implausibly survives yet another stormy night.
Behrman Dies While Johnsy Lives (Situational Irony)
In an ironic reversal of fates, the story ends with the revelation that Behrman contracted pneumonia during the night he painted the ivy leaf on the brick wall to fool Johnsy. The situation is ironic, because Behrman unwittingly sacrifices his own life in order to save Johnsy's.
Behrman Creates a Masterpiece After All (Situational Irony)
In a final instance of situational irony, Sue reveals at the end of the story that the last leaf was in fact painted by Behrman. She declares the painted leaf to be his "masterpiece"—the great work of art that he always talked about making but had failed throughout his life to produce, and which no one expected him to create.
