The last leaf

 

The last leaf

2. Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

 a) What did Behrman think about Johnsy’s imagination?

When Sue told Behrman about how she feared losing Johnsy due to her strange fantasy concerning the last ivy leaf, he became quite angry and expressed his contempt and derision for such an idiotic imagination.

b) How did Sue try to change Johnsy’s pessimistic attitude?

Sue tried to change Johnsy’s pessimistic attitude towards life by diverting Johnsy’s mind from the last leaf and her sickness by making her take interest in things around her. She tried to keep up Johnsy’s sagging sprits by bringing her drawing board in Johnsy’s room and whistling.

c) What did Sue and Johnsy see when they pulled the curtain after the beating rain?

After the beating rain and fierce gusts of wind that had continued through the long night, when Sue and Johnsy pulled up the curtain, they saw the last ivy leaf still on the vine. Still dark green near its stem, but with its serrated edges tinted with the yellow of dissolution and decay, it hung bravely from a branch some twenty feet above the ground.

3. Answer the following questions in 100-120 words.

a) What was the cause of Johnsy’s illness? How could the illness be treated?

Johnsy was bedridden with pneumonia. However, the real cause of her illness was her negative thinking. Pneumonia had damaged her body and mind. She had made up her mind that she was going to die. Quite illogically, she had linked the falling number of vine leaves to her remaining lifespan. Her illness could be treated only by injecting back hope and willpower in her life. Her doctor also said that if she did not want to live then medicines would not help her.

b) How did Behrman save Johnsy’s life?

Johnsy had given up on her life and was waiting for the last ivy leaf to fall from the vine which she had associated to her death as well. One night, Behrman who was very furious because of this imagination decided to save Johnsy’s life. He climbed the ladder and fought against the icy winds and rains to paint an ivy leaf as green and real as the one on the vine. The next morning when Johnsy saw the leaf on the vine after the heavy rains and icy winds, Johnsy realised it was a sin to want to die and decided to get her will back to want to live. Even though the weather took away Behrman’s life, it gave Johnsy the hope to live.