Characterization of Behrman

Behrman is a very important character in the short story “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, as his sacrifice is what eventually saves Johnsy.

His outer characterization presents him as a painter who is “past sixty” (l. 109), having “the body of an imp” (l. 110), the “head of a satyr” (l. 110), and a “Michael Angelo’s Moses beard” (l. 109). The man lives on the ground floor beneath Sue and Johnsy’s studio, and he has experienced artist’s block for decades. His failure as an artist makes him drink “gin to excess” (l. 117) and the little money he earns come as a result of him posing for the younger artists in Greenwich Village.

Inner characterization

The man’s inner characterization resurfaces when he hears about Johnsy’s illness. At first, he is angry that a young woman like Johnsy wishes to die because of an obsession over ivy leaves and reprimands Sue for not stopping her negative thoughts:

‘Vass!’ he cried. ‘Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermitdunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der brain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy.’ (ll. 130-134)

The above quotation also reveals an important element about Behrman – his German ancestry, which becomes obvious through the man’s accent and the way he speaks.

He agrees to pose ...