Analyzing the Character of Giôn-xi in the Short Story The Last Leaf

Assignment: Analyzing the Character of Giôn-xi in the Short Story The Last Leaf

Analyzing the Character of Giôn-xi in the Short Story The Last Leaf

I. Outline for Analyzing the Character of Giôn-xi in the Short Story The Last Leaf (Standard)

1. Introduction

- Introducing the author O. Henry and the work The Last Leaf.
- Introducing the character Giôn-xi.

2. The Story's Essence

a. Synopsis:

b. Analysis of Character Giôn-xi:
- A pitiful girl, plagued by illness and poverty, has eroded all perseverance to cling to life within her soul.
- Giôn-xi has placed all her trust and life onto the fading thread of hope outside her window.

- Second Time Pulling the Curtain:
+ Despite Giôn-xi's merciless determination to pull the curtain blocking Xiu, the leaf remains, and in that moment, something broke within the young girl's mind.
+ She awakened to the realization of her cruelty towards herself and disregarding the pain of those around her, consumed by selfish practicality. Giôn-xi acknowledges the vile thought of oneself 'wanting to die is a sin.'

- Giôn-xi's Revival:
+ She desires to eat porridge, drink milk mixed with red wine after days of neglect.
+ Longing to beautify her appearance, she asks Xiu for a mirror, and shows concern for life as she asks Xiu to arrange pillows around to watch her cook.
+ Rekindling her love for art, something she abandoned since illness, Giôn-xi dreams of one day painting the Gulf of Napoli.
→ Ultimately, the two girls triumph over illness together. It can be said that Giôn-xi's life was restored thanks to the compassion of Old Man Bơ-men, Xiu's care, the miraculous resilience of the leaf, and ultimately her own strong will to live.

3. Closing Remarks

Express Impressions.

II. Sample Essay Analyzing the Character of Giôn-xi in the short story The Last Leaf (Standard)

O Henry (1862-1910) was a renowned American writer, with a vast collection of works. Despite limited formal education, his difficult and arduous life, marked by many hardships, served as source material, experiences that aided him in creating valuable works. O Henry's main theme revolved around struggling, unfortunate Americans, employing a narrative style that twists situations unexpectedly, captivating readers and offering a unique perspective on the value of his works. The Last Leaf is one of O Henry's finest short stories, depicting impoverished artists in America at the time, with three main characters: Old Man Bơ-men, and two young female artists, Giôn-xi and Xiu. Despite living in impoverished circumstances, they all exhibit admirable qualities, alongside the kindness and sacrifice of Old Man Bơ-men and Xiu's deep affection and care. The character of Giôn-xi emerges with deeply existential emotions of a desperate and slowly dying patient, alongside her miraculous revival and determination to live.

The story unfolds in the backdrop of a dilapidated three-story building in the capital city of Oa-sinh-tơn, America, where resides an elderly artist named Old Man Bơ-men, who perpetually laments his inability to create a lasting masterpiece. Living above him are two female artists, Xiu and Giôn-xi, both of whom are virtuous, gentle, and live quietly. Unfortunately, Giôn-xi, through misfortune, is afflicted with pulmonary edema, partly due to severe illness and partly due to financial constraints preventing her access to medication, resulting in no improvement in her condition. The pain of illness, coupled with life's stagnation, leads Giôn-xi to lose all hope in life, despite the caring presence of her good sister, Xiu. She entrusts her life to the falling leaves of a vine outside her window, counting each leaf day by day, believing that when the last leaf falls, it will mark her death. The artistic soul is not inherently malicious, but for Giôn-xi's condition, it's profoundly unfortunate.

Giôn-xi is truly a pitiful girl, afflicted with severe illness and poverty, eroding all perseverance to cling to life within her soul. This young girl is completely desperate, believing that only death can provide liberation. Her collapse comes swiftly and forcefully, beyond the reach of compassionate words or gentle care from figures like Xiu. Because Giôn-xi has placed all her trust and life onto the falling leaves of a vine outside her window. The previous night, before drawing the curtain to sleep, Giôn-xi cast her eyes outside and counted only 4 leaves remaining. The fewer the leaves, the more her desire to survive waned, beyond salvation. She prepared herself mentally, ready for death to take her to the other world, disregarding the suffering and sadness of her friend, as well as the anger of Old Man Bơ-men towards her foolish thoughts (in reality, she is unaware of this and not lucid enough to realize it as a foolish notion).