Question- Describe the character of Sue in the story 'The Last Leaf.

Or

How would you evaluate Sue as a friend in "The Last Leaf"?

Ans-

Sue was one of the main characters in The Last Leaf. She was an artist. She was interested in painting. She was a young painter from Maine. The story focuses on the friendship of Sue and Johnsy. They first met at a restaurant where they had gone for dinner. Sue and Johnsy realise their similar taste for art and otherwise. They both liked chicory salad to begin with and also liked the bishop sleeves as well. Sue became very familiar and congenial with Johnsy as they become friends. They decide to start their joint studio at Greenwich village in New York.

These two young female painting artist begin to live with each other. They choose Greenwich village as once an artist discovered a valuable possibility in this street. There were no taxes or heavy expenses here for artists.

Since then, many artists came to this village to make a living. Soon it became a colony of artists as they came prowling and hunting for north windows and eighteen century gables and Dutch attics and most importantly, low rents. The story is set at the time of an epidemic. At this time, Pneumonia was a fatal disease which was spreading like wild fire. Sue and Johnsy had their studio at the top of a squathy, three storey brick building.

They had a bohemian neighborhood. It was an ideal place for them. No tax collector came to their place as it was difficult to navigate the locality. Everything was going well until the winter came. In November, a cold, unseen stranger came, which the doctors called Pneumonia. The whole colony was affected with the disease as it touched one after another with its 'icy fingers'. This ravager strode boldly on the East side, smiting his victims by scores. The disease spread slowly in the narrow and moss-grown places.

Sue's friend Johnsy could not remain untouched by Mr. Pneumonia, as the narrator addressed this disease. Johnsy fell ill and she remained bed ridden. She laid on her painted iron bedstead without much movement. The only thing she could do was to look through the blank side of the next brick house. All this while, Sue took care of her. She proved to be a best friend. She remained patient enough to take care of her friend. When the doctor told Sue that Johnsy has only ten percent chance to live as she lack any good reason to survive and overcome her illness. This news had broken Sue's heart. She was shattered to learn about her friend's condition. Sue makes a lot of effort to give hope to Johnsy but nothing works. Johnsy somehow start to believe that she won't survive for long. She develops a fancy that the ivy creeper leaves symbolises her life. As she looked outside her window, she would count the falling leaves. Johnsy assumed that she would die with the last leaf on the wall where the ivy creeper clings.

Sue was upset to see Johnsy counting the leaves and waiting for her death. She cried a lot and shared Johnsy's situation with an old painter named Behrman. He lived downstairs and considered Sue and Johnsy as his daughters. Sue asked him to help her as she had tried everything possible. Sue had a beautiful heart. She truly cared for Johnsy's well-being. She never gave up on her. Sue was very kind, sensitive, caring, loyal and a loving friend. She was as considerate as a mother. She took care of Johnsy like a mother figure. She was affectionate towards everyone, specially Johnsy. Sue took all the possible initiatives to protect Johnsy and save her life. It was her effort that saved Johnsy. Although, it was the old Behrman who paints the last leaf but Sue had made him aware of Johnsy's condition. Sue did not surrender to the adverse situation. She never lost hope. Sue proved to be a true fighter as she gave limitless hope to Johnsy.

Sue 'cried a Japanese napkin to a pulp' when she was informed about Johnsy's condition. Sue was so concerned about Johnsy that she stopped whistling thinking she was asleep. She changed many of her such habits for the sake of Johnsy. Sue worked on her book illustration painting so that she could bring pork and wine for her best friend. When Johnsy was obsessively counting leaves, Sue requested her to close her eyes so as to stop thinking of death. She was as caring as a family towards Johnsy. She even responded warmly when Johnsy coldly asked her to draw in other room. Sue said, "Td rather be here by you. Beside, I don't want you to keep looking at those silly ivy leaves".

Sue proved to be a best friend anyone could have asked for. She cried alone but remained strong like a pillar to Johnsy. She encouraged Johnsy to live and overcome her illness. Sue can be seen as the 'Last Leaf in the true sense as it was the symbol of hope. She held on to Johnsy till the end.

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