Key Points of the Story
- Setting: Sue and Johnsy, two young artists, live together in a small flat on the third floor of an old house.
- Johnsy's Illness: Johnsy falls gravely ill with pneumonia and becomes despondent, believing she will die when the last ivy leaf outside their window falls.
- Doctor's Advice: The doctor informs Sue that Johnsy's recovery depends on her will to live, emphasizing that medicine alone will not help.
- Sue’s Efforts: Sue tries to uplift Johnsy's spirits by engaging her in conversation and keeping her mind occupied, but Johnsy remains fixated on the ivy leaf.
- Behrman’s Role: Behrman, an elderly painter, creates a lifelike painting of the last ivy leaf to give Johnsy hope, sacrificing his life in the process.
- Johnsy's Transformation: Inspired by the remaining leaf, Johnsy regains her will to live, unaware of Behrman’s final act of painting the leaf.
Detailed Summary
- Introduction of Sue and Johnsy: Once upon a time in a bustling city, there resided two young artists named Sue and Johnsy. They lived together in a cozy flat situated on the third floor of an ancient building. Unfortunately, Johnsy fell severely ill with pneumonia one chilly November, confining herself to her bed, staring listlessly out of the window.
- Sue's Efforts and the Doctor's Concern: Concerned Sue, her dear friend, summoned the doctor, who attended to Johnsy diligently but to no avail. Despite Sue's efforts to engage Johnsy by discussing various topics like fashion and art, Johnsy remained disinterested, fixated on the idea that her fate was sealed, and no medicine could alter it. In a desperate attempt to divert Johnsy's attention, Sue brought her drawing board into the room, painting while whistling cheerfully.
- Johnsy's Belief in the Last Leaf: One day, a turning point arrived when Johnsy, quietly counting down the remaining leaves on a vine outside, expressed her belief that her life was tied to the falling of the last leaf. Sue, in disbelief, tried to reason with her, emphasizing the doctor's optimism about her recovery. However, Johnsy's conviction remained unshaken, leading to a poignant moment of reflection and realization.
- Johnsy’s Recovery and Behrman’s Sacrifice: Witnessing the leaf's resilience, she acknowledged her ingratitude towards Sue's care and decided to embrace life with newfound vigor. This transformation marked a pivotal moment in her recovery journey, culminating in a heartwarming reconciliation between the friends. Tragically, while Johnsy's health improved, Behrman succumbed to pneumonia after a brief illness. His final act of painting the last leaf, symbolizing hope and endurance, left a lasting impact on both Johnsy and Sue, underscoring the beauty of selflessness and the power of art in times of despair.
- The Legacy of Behrman’s Masterpiece: In the end, as Sue shared Behrman's legacy with Johnsy, the significance of his masterpiece dawned upon them, reinforcing the profound bond between art, life, and the enduring spirit of humanity. The tale of Sue, Johnsy, and Behrman serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness of life's fleeting moments and the enduring legacy of compassion and creativity.
- Behrman’s Role and the Painted Leaf: Meanwhile, Sue, determined to support her friend, sought the help of Behrman, an aging painter living downstairs, sharing Johnsy's predicament with him. Behrman, initially critical of Johnsy's perspective, eventually showed empathy upon learning the gravity of her condition. As days passed and the lone leaf on the vine persisted despite harsh weather conditions, Johnsy's outlook gradually shifted
- Theme of the Story
- The story highlights the fragility of life and the vital role of hope in overcoming adversity.
- Friendship, compassion, and selflessness are central to healing and personal growth during difficult times.
- The power of art and creativity is portrayed as a source of hope and inspiration, capable of changing lives.
Difficult Words- Pneumonia: an inflammatory condition of the lung affecting primarily the tiny air sacs known as alveoli.
- Despondent: feeling or showing profound hopelessness, dejection, or gloom.
- Anxiously: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency.
- Energetically: with great energy, enthusiasm, or determination.
- Gloomy: darkness, sadness, rejection, or despondency.
- Adversity: difficulties, misfortune, or unfavorable circumstances.
- Realization: the act of becoming fully aware of something as a fact.
- Janitor: a person employed to take care of a building, such as a caretaker or a doorkeeper.
- Desperately: in a way that shows despair or hopelessness.
- Adversity: difficulties, misfortune, or unfavorable circumstances.
- Uplift: raise to a higher position or level; improve spiritually or morally.
- Renewed: resumed after an interruption; revived or restored.
- Contingency: a future event or circumstance that is possible but cannot be predicted or controlled.
- Profound: very great or intense; having or showing great knowledge or insight.
