Roll No:445

Name : Mehwish Iqbal

Bs English 6B

Subject: Prose B

Assignment No: 1

Submitted To: Mam Maimoona

National University Of Modern Languages Islamabad

 THE LAST LEAF BY O HENRY

THEMES
(1)SELFLESSNESS AND SACRIFICE

Selflessness and sacrifice is one of the major themes of the story The Last
Leaf. This theme is illustrated by the character of Mr. Behrman. He is an old man but he
sacrifices his life to save Johnsy. When he came to know that Johnsy believed that she will die
when the last leaf on the ivy vine falls. He decided to help Johnsy to save her life. He gets out in
the rain and snow in night to paint the ivy leaf on the wall. As a result of his sacrifice ,he
becomes ill with pneumonia and eventually dies.

(2)HOPE

The theme of hope is illustrated in the story by the character of Sue. Johnsy has lost
her hope of recovery and she is waiting for her death but Sue does not lose hope. She lies to
Johnsy about her chance to survive and taking care of her hoping that she will recover soon and
as a result Johnsy once again gains hope and returns to life . Theme of hope is visible in the
following lines of Johnsy

Sudie , someday I hope to paint the bay of Naples.

(3) LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP

Love and friendship is another major theme of the story. Johnsy and Sue are
very good friends. When johnsy was ill Sue has supported her and took care of her. She tried
her best to bring Johnsy back to her life. These lines of Sue shows their love for each other

Think of me ,if you wont think of yourself .What would I do?

(4)COMMITMENT

While reading the story we come to know the theme of commitment. Sue , Johnsy
and Behrman all are commited to do something. Sue and Behrman are committed to their art
work and Johnsy has commited to die as soon as the last leaf falls from the vine.
(5)DEATH

From the tittle of the story the theme of death comes in our mind. The growth of a
tree can be guessed from its leaves but it was an autumn season and the leaves were falling.
Autumn is the symbol of death and decay. Autumn is the mortal season for leaves and at the
same time Johnsy fell ill with pneumonia. Pneumonia is a symbol of death for Mr. Behrman.

(6)ART

The importance of art in human life I seen in the story The Last Leaf. The Last leaf is
about the art and sacrifices artists make for it. Sue , Johnsy and Behrman all of the characters
are artists. Mr. Behrman was thinking of creating a master piece in his life but he never tried it.
At last he painted a leaf with his artistic skills on the wall. He put his feelings into his work and
communicates them to Johnsy.

SYMBOLS
(1)LEAF

From the title of the story which is the last leaf , the leaf symbolizes ending and
death. Johnsy believes that she will die with the falling of the last leaf. The leaf turns into a
symbol of hope because as long as it was on the ivy vine Johnsy had hope to live. The leaf
stands for Johnsy,s life .It becomes a symbol of hope when it remains on the wall and does not
fall.

(2)SHOES

Symbol of shoes and icy cold is used in the story. Shoes are the symbol of oppression ,
tyranny and death. This symbol is used to show the death of Mr. Behrman.

His shoes and clothing were wet through and icy cold.

(3)PNEUMONIA

Mr. Pneumonia is a non living character in the story. It symbolizes the deadly disease
due to which Behrman died and Johnsy suffered.

In November a cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called Pneumonia , stalked
about the colony,touching one here and there with his icy fingers.
(4)WINTER

Winter is a time of falling of leaves and is usually associated with gloominess and
decay. In The Last Leaf it symbolizes death and ending. Johnsy was counting the falling leaves
in winter.

CHARACTERS
(1)JOHNSY

Johnsy is the main character of the story. She is suffering from Pneumonia. She believes
that she will die when the last leaf will fall. OHenry has depicted pessimism through Johnsys
character. She gains hope when she saw that the last leaf on vine is still there at the end of the
story she has gained hope to fight against death.

(2)SUE

Sue is a loving and caring friend of Johnsy .She is a young artist.She always takes care of Johnsy.
She has provided strength to Johnsy to come back to life once again.She is an optimistic
character in the story. She is a symbol of optimism, friendship and sacrifice.

(3)MR.BEHRMAN

Mr.Behrman was an old man. He was an artist. He lived in the same apartment in which Johnsy
and sue lived. This old man wanted to draw a masterpiece but he never attempted to draw .He
dies of pneumonia at the end of story.