Chapter 7 The Last Leaf

Question 1 What is Johnsy’s illness? What can cure her, the medicine or the willingness to live?

Answer Johnsy is suffering from pneumonia but her illness does not end here. She is also suffering psychologically (mentally). Johnsy in her illness had lost all her hope and willingness to live. She had started to believe that she would die when the last leaf on the ivy creeper outside her window would fall. Johnsy can be cured by her willingness to live. Her medicines would start to cure her if she gains back her hope to live.

Question 2 Do you think the feeling of depression Johnsy has is common among teenagers?

Answer Yes, the feeling of depression that Johnsy has, is quite common among teenagers. They may undergo depression due to various reasons like stress, peer pressure, conflict with parents, academic pressure, etc.

Question 3 Behrman has a dream. What is it? Does it come true?

Answer Behrman has a dream of painting a masterpiece. He is an old man and a painter. But so far he has not been successful to paint this. It does come true when he paints a leaf that looks similar to the leaf on the creeper. Johnsy survives because of this masterpiece.

Question 4 What is Behrman’s masterpiece? What makes Sue say so?

Answer Behrman’s masterpiece is the painted leaf on the wall. It has saved Johnsy’s life, though it cost him his own life. After looking at it, Johnsy gets a willingness to live. She is all right now. This makes Sue say that Behrman at last painted his masterpiece in that leaf. It was a masterpiece in the sense also that it had saved Johnsy’s life.