Setting
Read here our analysis of the setting of “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry
Time setting
The short story was written in 1907 and the time setting is very close to the time of publishing, as the beginning of the 20th century was the time when Greenwich Village gained its reputation as a welcoming place for artists. Note that the events depicted in the story spread over the course of a few days, from the moment Johnsy falls sick with pneumonia to the day when she feels better and Behrman dies.
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Physical setting
The Greenwich Village is depicted in the following extract:
In a little district west of Washington Square the streets have run crazy and broken themselves into small strips called ‘places.’ These ‘places’ make strange angles and curves. One Street crosses itself a time or two. An artist once discovered a valuable possibility in this street. Suppose a collector with a bill for paints, paper and canvas should, in traversing this route, suddenly meet himself coming back, without a cent having been paid on account! (ll. 1-7)
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Social setting
Finally, the social setting focuses on the lives of artists in Greenwich Village in the 1900s. Historically, Greenwich Village was known as a place for culture and art from the late 19th century, as it used to draw artists from all over the country and provided places for their studios. As you have seen, Sue, Johnsy, and Behrman set their studios in Greenwich Village, where they earn their living. Behrman, as he did paint for several years, “earned a little by serving as a model to those young artists in the colony who could not pay the price of a professional” (ll. 115-117). Sue, in her turn, draws pictures “for magazine stories” (l. 56) to pay her way.
The social setting also focuses on an important aspect: the relationship between Sue and Johnsy.
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