Loss In Gwilan's Harp And The Last Leaf

In the short stories Gwilan's Harp by Ursula K, LeGuin, The Last Leaf by O. Henry, and The Washwoman by Isaac Singer, each character experiences a variation of loss. Ursula K LeGuin wrote Gwilan's Harp about a young lady who possesses a beautiful, unique, like no other, harp; on course to a day of music Gwilan's life changes dramatically due to a tragic loss. in The Last Leaf, O. Henry writes about a sickly girl whose endangered life is saved by the loss of another. Finally, in The Washwoman, Isaac Singer creates a story about a family and their washwoman. The family grows to love the Washwoman, so when the woman tragically does not return the family mourns.

Death is a central theme in the short stories “Death by Landscape” and “Happy Endings”, both by Margaret Atwood. While both stories have a prominent character fall victim to death, they both contrast in the way the death affects the surviving character as well as how each death is presented. In “Death by Landscape”, Lois makes good friends with Lucy at camp. However, Lucy seemingly disappears later, leaving a lasting impact on Lois. In the story “Happy Endings”, there are six scenarios where two different stock characters marry.

Moving on from a dead family member can be challenging for anyone. But how might fictional characters react to such news? This essay compares two characters from different stories to analyse how they cope with losing a loved one and how their circumstances and characteristics affect their decisions. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, is a story of family, revenge, and overcoming grief, sharing many themes with William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. The Lovely Bones is a story of a young girl named Susie Salmon, who George Harvey, her neighbour, lures, rapes, and murders.

After facing directly with the sorrow, he writes in the letter, “She’s dead and that’s it” (Coupland, 35). Jason’s grief is eased. While Jason’s process of managing grief is built on facing with it and self-reflection, Julie deals with hers by helping accomplish her beloved’s goal. Julie experiences grief after her husband’s death. Her life is meaningless because there are no goals for her to fight for: nothing really matters after the tragedy.

Finally, throughout “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, Sue and Joanna lose Behrman to pneumonia, but they have thankfulness for what he did. Gwilan, the main character from Gwilan 's Harp written by Ursula Leguin, experiences great sadness throughout her life. Even though it does not get mentioned it seems that her mother dies. Then her prized harp gets destroyed in the cart accident. Eventually, her husband dies from sickness and she loses her ability to play the harp.

‘ In the story entitled “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” Granny finds herself approaching death. Even though she believes she is just fine, minute details lead the reader to believe she is rather ill: “she meant to wave good-by, but it was too much trouble” and by the end of the story, she is too weak to speak, “[s]he thought she spoke up loudly, but no one answered. The story follows Granny as she reflects on her life, including the jilting for which the story is named. By the end of the tale, Granny is fastly approaching death and sees her dead daughter waiting for her. When looking at this story from the lens of literary techniques, the ones chosen give the story a unique flavor.

In the short stories: “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, all of the authors make their characters go thorough loss. Gwilan in “Gwilan’s Harp” loses her harp—her livelihood. The Jewish family in “The Washwoman” experiences the loss of their servant, and Johnsy in “The Last Leaf” loses a friend that saved her life. However, none of these stories end with a sense of loss. All of them finish with a sense of victory over their specific hardship.

“A Sorrowful Woman” takes a deeper and darker twist which can be viewed as more accurate to reality. The reader follows along a trail of despair and neglect while learning more of the exceedingly sick Mother. The ending of the tales reveals to the reader yet another difference. In Van der Zee’s story the ending is overwhelmingly happy and lighthearted and signifies an end to an overall inspiring story. In contrast, in the end of Godwin’s very different story Mother dies and while this seems like an upsetting conclusion the reader must circumpass the anguish to find the true meaning.

Many works of literature include themes of loss that carry the plot along or illustrate life lessons through characters' response to this loss. Characters in the short stories “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, all experience losses, reacting to them in a variety of ways. Gwilan, the main character in "Gwilan's Harp," emerges from the many unfortunate events of her life with a new positive outlook on her circumstances. The central figure of "The Washwoman" responds to losses in her life in a steadfast manner that adds intrigue to the plot. How Johnsy, one of the main characters in "The Last Leaf," reacts to loss ultimately contributes to the message of the story.

Louise’s victory in accepting her husband’s death is a feeling that she now cannot live without. The ultimate death of Louise Mallard is one that represents physical and emotional defeat. In this dramatic short story, Chopin uses imagery to sew together a tapestry of emotions all encompassed in an ill-stricken widow. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.”

Either way, the responses of Gwilan, the washwoman, and Mr. Behrman to defeat and suffering show that they are beautiful people. In the short stories “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry, the theme of loss reveals a selfless attitude in each of the key characters. Gwilan, the main character in “Gwilan’s Harp”, suffers great loss throughout her life; however in times of sadness, her resilience and perseverance shines most brightly. First Gwilan undergoes the loss of her most

The loss in Gwilan’s life nearly stifles her hope. First, in a wagon accident, her beloved harp shatters and her wrist breaks. As a result, her livelihood as a musician ends. Later in her life even after she receives new harps, she cannot play since her hands

An Unlikely Influence In the short stories “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry death prevails as the dominant theme. Many of the characters learn what true sacrifice looks like from the actions of those around them. Upon her husband’s death, Gwilan, from “Gwilan’s Harp” discovers the heartbreak of loss, but by the story’s end, Gwilan discovers her worth. “The Washwoman” tells the tale of a hardy, but elderly washwoman, whose death greatly affects a young Jewish boy for better. Finally, “The Last Leaf” unravels the story of unlikely hero, and how he saves a young painter from her death.

The brilliant Martin Luther King Junior once claimed that “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Throughout Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry each of the characters experience a loss of hope in a different way. All three stories exemplify the truth that pushing through difficult situations is much easier with an optimistic outlook. In Gwilan’s Harp, the talented and promising musician loses faith regarding her future, but then realizes her true identity by the end. Similarly, both mother and son in the Washwoman lose hope that she will return, but soon learn to never doubt her faithfulness.

While in “The Washwoman” the author uses the loss of the main characters life to expose to the reader one of the key themes of the story. And lastly, in “The Last Leaf” the author uses the loss of Behrman’s life to help shock and surprise the audience of readers. Overall, these authors all use the process of loss to help enhance and better their stories. Out of all the short stories, Ursula K. Le Guin story, “Gwilan’s Harp” consists of the most loss.