The Last Leaf And Gwilian's Hard

In the stories “The Last Leaf” by O Henry, “The Washwoman” by Isaac, Singer, and “Gwilian’s Harp” by Ursula LeGuin, the characters of these stories all have to endure much loss, however the loss of these characters varies. Some lose material things like in “Gwilian’s Harp”. While in “The Washwoman” the characters lose relationships or someone’s love. Also characters lose their life or someone who was dear to them like in “The Last Leaf”. Loss is the common thread that ties all three of these interesting stories together. In “Gwillian’s Harp”, “The Washwoman”, and “The last leaf” the main characters all experience loss in several different forms, those being material loss, relationship loss, and the loss of life.

In the story “Gwilian’s Harp” the main character, Gwillian, losses her most prized possession, her harp. Early in the story Gwillian receives an amazing harp. As the book describes it; “The shape of it was perfection, and every part was strong and fine: the wood as hard and smooth as bronze … But all this beauty was practical, obedient, shaped to the service of sound.” This amazing harp brought her fame because no other musician’s instrument could

In the city of New York two young artists live together. Unfortunately one of the girls, Johnsy, has fallen ill and lost hope of making it through. She believes when the last leaf falls off the tree she will die. Upon hearing this Mr. Behrman, her neighbor, devises a plan to save her. Meanwhile one last leaf remains on the tree and refuses to fall off. After Johnsy gets better she discovers why the leaf never fell. As the young artist explains it “Didn’t you wonder why it never fluttered or moved when the wind blew? Ah darling, its Behrman’s masterpiece- he painted it there the night the last leaf fell”. Unfortunately because Mr. Behrman stayed up late in a storm painting that leaf he died of Pneumonia. “The last leaf” demonstrates the loss of