Comparing 'Gwilan's Harp And The Last Leaf'

Morals Endure

The goal of most stories is to convey a point, or to teach a lesson to the reader. Throughout the short stories “Gwilan's Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, the concept of loss plays a common theme throughout the characters' lives. Loss can be attributed to many things, including people, but in these short stories it is nonhuman things in particular that can serve to teach lessons: the harp in “Gwilan's Harp”, the linens in “The Washwoman” and the vine in “The Last Leaf”. Each of these physical objects takes part in a form of loss that serves to help the characters of each story learn a message, whether it be it large or small.

In “Gwilan's Harp” (LeGuin), the main character, Gwilan, suffers from the loss of her harp, and causes her outlook on life to change. When the harp is smashed during a cart accident, Gwilan loses her precious instrument, and is also unable to play at all due to a severe wrist injury. When her injury finally heals, Gwilan is not able to play the harp very well anymore – her wrist is stiff, and arthritis eventually sets in over the years. The loss of
When the final leaf is gone, she says, she will die too. When there is only one leaf left, it will not fall, even though there is a roaring storm outside. When the last leaf is found to have not fallen because it was a painting, Johnsy realizes an important point – that it is never a good idea to let influence your mindset to such an extent as to lose the will to live – essentially, suicide. After her change of heart, Johnsy says, “Something made that last leaf stay there to show me how wicked I was. It is a sin to want to die” (Henry). In a world where suicides take place every day, it is valuable to hear a lesson that teaches to keep a hold of your grip on