A Comparison Of Gwilan's Harp And The Last Leaf

In the thought provoking stories “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, certain characters experienced tragic loses. These stories all sadly portrayed tragic moments that the main characters experienced. In the story “Gwilan’s Harp” Gwilan loses her harp, but she is able to find redemption at the conclusion. The both inspiring and touching story of the “The Washwoman” reveals an important life lesson and shows strong examples of aspiring attitude. Finally, “The Last Leaf” surprises the reader with an unpredictable ending of Behrman, who is very poorly treated but he acts as a great influence throughout the story. Without doubt, these stories demonstrate respectable principals

and examples through hard times.

Firstly, the main character Gwilan from “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K.

LeGuin, lives a life full of hardships and sacrifices. Gwilan sadly loses her prized harp during an accident while travelling to a music festival and sadly never acts the same afterwards. However, she marries a man named Torm, as the two both loved and had a unique passion for music. She then lives with Torm in poverty on a farm with their two sons who unfortunately never received the astounding gift of music. Devastatingly, Gwilan soon becomes diagnose with arthritis because of her broken wrist from the accident. She soon loses her ability to play the harp and soon later Torm dies in illness after the thirty years of marriage they shared “I have nothing left at all now but myself” (LeGuin). Gwilan realizes she has herself even through the hardships and difficult times of loss. The theme of loss dominates, but Gwilan learns to play the instrument she always had in

her.

On the other hand, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer showed the power of one’s influence. The main character a Gentile washwoman goes through life working hard and lives in an apprising attitude despite the occurring obstacles she goes through. She impacts the life of a Jewish family and shows the astonishing strength even while facing the hardest circumstances. “I cannot even conceive of a world where there is no recompense for such effort” (Singer). The washwoman never fails to work hard and always gives her best effort no matter what circumstance she occurs. Even while her health dwindles, she manages to faithfully return all the laundry before she sadly passes away.

Finally, in “The Last Leaf” written by O.

Henry, a young painter Johnsy, becomes ill with pneumonia. While lying in bed dreadfully ill, Johnsy spots an ivory vine and she begins to count down the leaves outside her window. When the last one falls, she believed she will fall too. Her good friend Sue, tries effortlessly to dissuade Johnsy’s crazy idea. Sue then seeks outside help, she goes to their neighbor Behrman ignoring his age and stubbornness. “He had been always about to paint a masterpiece, but had never yet begun it” (Henry). Behrman then created his masterpiece as he painted the last leaf in the cold and harsh icy rain. He soon becomes ill with pneumonia and dies but his death saved Johnsy and he demonstrated true caring, and a sacrificial

personality.

Each of these short stories displayed the sad and hard troubles in one’s life. The authors use the loss to show the true good and sacrifice in one’s heart. In “Gwilan’s Harp,” Gwilan loses so much, but she never loses herself and creates an inspiring redemption. While in “The Washwoman” effort is displayed in the most persevering way imaginable. Lastly, in “The Last Leaf” Behrman goes out of his way and sacrifices his life for another. These characters showed so much passion and where true role models. Their actions proved who they were. They created an astonishing long-lasting impact which created them to be true leaders.