Write an essay by developing the following hints:
Friendship between Sue and Johnsy – Johnsy attacked by pneumonia – her thought of death – counting falling leaves of the ivy plant – Sue’s effort - Behrman – his aim in life - bold gesture of Behrman – painting the fallen leaf – change in Johnsy’s outlook – motivation to live – Behrman’s death due to pneumonia – his masterpiece.

Question

Write an essay by developing the following hints:
Friendship between Sue and Johnsy – Johnsy attacked by pneumonia – her thought of death – counting falling leaves of the ivy plant – Sue’s effort - Behrman – his aim in life - bold gesture of Behrman – painting the fallen leaf – change in Johnsy’s outlook – motivation to live – Behrman’s death due to pneumonia – his masterpiece.

Vedantu Content Team · Accepted Answer

Hint: The outlined represents a masterpiece by O’Henry called ‘The Last Leaf.’

Complete step-by-step answer:

The story revolves around Sue and Johnsy, two young women artists. They had their studio at the top of the three-story building. In the area they lived in, many people were affected by pneumonia. When Johnsy was diagnosed with pneumonia, the attending doctor informed Sue that the chance of Johnsy's recovery depended on her will to live. The doctor questioned if Johnsy was depressed about something in particular. Sue answered that she was depressed due to her unfulfilled ambition to paint the Bay of Naples.
After the doctor's exit, as Sue was painting, she heard a Johnsy speaking something. Immediately, she rushed to Johnsy's room and heard her counting backward. Johnsy was counting the number of leaves of an ivy plant in front of their building. At the time, only five leaves were left. Johnsy firmly believed that at the fall of the last leaf, she would also die. Sue wanted Mr.Behrman who always wanted to paint a masterpiece but had never yet begun it to model for her work. While Sue went to the ground floor to meet him, she told him about Johnsy's thoughts. Behrman wanted to save her life. So, on the very same night when it was raining heavily, he painted the last ivy leaf exactly as the original one. The last leaf painted by Behrman saved Johnsy's life but he died of pneumonia. On the other hand, seeing the last leaf Johnsy realized that it was a sin on her part to want to die. Sue's care towards her helped her to recover soon.

Note: The story should have logical proceedings and should touch upon all the outlines given.