Analysis

Here we provide a short summary of our analysis of “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry.

Regarding its structure, the story has a twist ending. It begins with an exposition, continues with a rising action, and ends with a climactic twist: the old artist named Behrman has sacrificed himself for the sake of Johnsy, the young woman about to die of pneumonia.

The main characters in the short story are Sue, Johnsy, and Behrman. The doctor also appears several times in the story, yet he is only a secondary character whose presence does not affect the development of the plot.

The physical setting indicates that the action takes place in Greenwich Village. An important focus is placed on Sue and Johnsy’s studio, which is the place where Sue paints and takes care of her sick friend. The narrator does not get involved in the action but simply renders what he sees.

The language employed in the short story is rather simple and easy to understand. The story becomes more complex due to the combination of descriptive and narrative passages with dialogue.

Read the entire analysis in the next pages!