Characterization of Sue and Johnsy

Here, we will present you the outer and inner traits of two of the main characters in “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry: Sue and Johnsy.

Sue

Sue is one of the main characters in the story “The Last Leaf”.

Her outer characterization reveals that she is a young artist and that she comes from Maine. She shares an art studio with Johnsy in Greenwich Village. As you can see, no further details are given regarding Sue’s looks and appearance. However, several clues in the short story indicate that Sue might be in love with Johnsy and that the two of them might form a couple.

Inner characterization

Sue’s inner characterization is revealed as soon as Johnsy falls sick with pneumonia. Sue comes across as very concerned for Johnsy’s health, and her affection for the young woman is suggested in her bitter reply to the doctor:

‘She - she wanted to paint the Bay of Naples some day.’ said Sue.
‘Paint? - bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice - a man for instance?’
‘A man?’ said Sue, with a jew's-harp twang in her voice. ‘Is a man worth - but, no, doctor; there is nothing of the kind.’ (ll. 36-40)

As the doctor reveals that Johnsy’s chances to live are slim, Sue is devastated and ‘cried a Japanese napkin to a pulp’ (ll. 48-49). Because she cares so much about Johnsy, she decides to take her drawing materials to Johnsy’s bedside, so as to keep an eye on her.

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Johnsy

Johnsy is another important character in the short story.

Outer characterization

Her outer characterization reveals that her name is, in fact, Joanna, that she is an artist, and that she comes from California. Note that the name Joanna is masculinized by the nickname Johnsy, which makes her come across as the more masculine one in the relationship.

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Inner characterization

Johnsy’s inner characterization comes across when she gets sick with pneumonia. Before getting sick, her greatest wish was to travel to Italy to paint the Bay of Naples, which reveals that art is an important part of her life. However, as she gets sicker day by day, Johnsy soon loses her wish to live and falls prey to desperation.

When she counts the leaves from the ivy vine, she is convinced that she will die once the last leaf falls. This becomes a sort of obsession with Johnsy, who seems unaware of Sue’s efforts to make her regain her wish to live.

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