It is impossible not to admire the work of O. Henry. This American writer, like no other, knew how to reveal human vices and ex alt virtues with one stroke of the pen. There is no allegory in his works, life appears as it really is. But even the tragic events are described by the master of words with his inherent subtle irony and good humor. We bring to your attention one of the most touching author's short stories, or rather its summary. "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry is a life-affirming story written in 1907, just three years before the writer's death.
Young nymph stricken with a serious illness
Two aspiring artists named Sue and Jonesy rent an inexpensive apartment in a poor area of Manhattan. The sun rarely shines on their third floor, as the windows face north. Behind the glass, you can only see a blank brick wall entwined with old ivy. This is approximately how the first lines of O. Henry's story "The Last Leaf" sound, the summary of which we are trying to produce asas close to the text as possible.
The girls settled in this apartment in May, organizing a small painting studio here. By the time of the events described, it is November outside and one of the artists is seriously ill - she was diagnosed with pneumonia. The visiting doctor fears for Jonesy's life, as she has lost heart and prepared to die. The thought firmly settled in her pretty head: as soon as the last leaf falls from the ivy outside the window, the last minute of her life will come for herself.
Sue tries to distract her friend, to instill even a small spark of hope, but she doesn't do it well. The situation is complicated by the fact that the autumn wind mercilessly plucks the leaves from the old ivy, which means that the girl does not have long to live.
Despite the brevity of this work, the author describes in detail the manifestations of Sue's touching care for her sick friend, the appearance and characters of the characters. But we are forced to omit many important nuances, as we set out to convey only a brief summary. "The Last Leaf" … O. Henry gave his story, at first glance, an inexpressive title. Its deeper meaning is revealed as the story progresses.
Evil Old Man Berman
The artist Berman lives in the same house one floor below. For the past twenty-five years, an aging man has been dreaming of creating his own pictorial masterpiece, but there is still not enough time to start work. He draws cheap posters and drinks heavily.
Sue, a friend of a sick girl, thinks Berman is a mad old man with a bad temper. Butstill tells him about Jonesy's fantasy, her obsession with her own death and the falling ivy leaves outside the window. But how can a failed artist help?
Probably, in this place the writer could put a long ellipsis and complete the story. And we would have to sigh sympathetically, reflecting on the fate of a young girl, whose life was fleeting, in book language, "had a brief content." "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry is a story with an unexpected ending, as, indeed, most of the author's other works. Therefore, it is too early to put an end to it.
A small feat in the name of life
Outside, a strong wind raged all night with rain and snow. But when Jonesy asked her friend to move the curtains in the morning, the girls saw that a yellow-green leaf was still holding on to the stiff ivy stalk. And on the second and on the third day, the picture did not change - the stubborn leaf did not want to fly away.
Jonsy also cheered up, believing that it was too early for her to die. The doctor, who visited his patient, said that the disease had receded and the girl's he alth was on the mend. Fanfares should sound here - a miracle has happened! Nature sided with man, not wanting to take away the hope of salvation from a weak girl.
A little later, the reader will understand that miracles happen at the will of those who are able to perform them. It is not difficult to verify this by reading the story in full or at least its summary. "The Last Leaf" by O. Henry is a story with a happy ending, but with a slight touch of sadness and lightsadness.
A few days later, the girls learn that their neighbor Berman has died in the hospital from pneumonia. He caught a bad cold that very night when the last leaf was to fall from the ivy. A yellow-green spot with a stem and like living veins the artist painted with paints on a brick wall.
Instilling hope in the heart of the dying Jonesy, Berman sacrificed his life. Thus ends the story of O. Henry "The Last Leaf". An analysis of the work could take more than one page, but we will try to express its main idea in just one line: “And in everyday life there is always a place for a feat.”
