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“The Last Leaf” by O. Henry - Coggle Diagram
“The Last Leaf” by O. Henry
Characters
Joanna
Sue
Behrman
An old, cynical, and unsuccessful painter living downstairs
Joanna’s devoted friend and fellow artist
A young, aspiring artist who falls critically ill with pneumonia
Plot
Climax
“It is still there!I knew it would stay, for your sake, Sue. It is a sin to want to die”
Resolution
“It was Behrman’s masterpiece - he painted it there the night the last leaf fell”
Setting
Place
Greenwich Village, New Your City
”In a little district west of Washington Square the streets…”
Time
Early 20th century, specifically during a cold and stormy November
“It was November. A cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called pneumonia…”
Themes
Hope vs. Despair
Joanna’s initial despair contrasts sharply with the hope rekindled by Behrman’s sacrifice
Friendship and Love
The deep bond between Sue and Joanna, and Behrman’s unexpected compassion for his young neighbours
The power of Art
Art is depicted not just as a profession, but as a life-saving force, inspiring hope and courage
Symbols
The Last Leaf
Represents hope, life, resilience, and Behrman’s act of sacrifice. It transforms from a symbol of death for Joanna into a symbol of life
Pneumonia
“A cold, unseen stranger, whom the doctors called pneumonia, was stalking about the colony”
Behrman’s Masterpiece
“It was Behrman’s masterpiece - he painted it there the night that the last leaf fell”