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
the harp showed Gwilan that even though one may possess incredible talent for one thing, life may not always allow you to use your skill for it - “But you play the instrument you have” (LeGuin). In the end, Gwilan finally turned to the one thing that remained to her – her voice, even though she could never sing well.

In “The Washwoman” (Singer), the family of the main character suffers by losing their linens for a time when the washwoman is temporarily unable to return after becoming ill. During the absence of their cloths, the family goes through a difficult time, as they struggle to stay warm with meager laundry: “For us the washwoman's absence was a catastrophe” (Singer). The family fully expected that the washwoman had died and that they would never see their linens again, but the washwoman finally returned over two months later. This story uses the temporary loss of comfort to show a powerful metaphor – that material things will come and go, but if you persevere with what you have and hope for the best, all will turn out well in the end.

In “The Last Leaf” (Henry), the character Johnsy becomes sick, and connects her will to live with a vine outside, that is slowly losing its leaves one by one.
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
life.

These are well-written stories that convey their morals clearly and effectively. Although there is far more to learn from these authors, it is telling that powerful lessons can be seen just from simple objects. Understanding and accepting change, even though it may not be what one expects, in “Gwilan's Harp”. Persevering through hard times in “The Washwoman”. Holding onto life in “The Last Leaf”. These are topics that could be difficult to convey, if not for the brilliance of the authors. It is no surprise that short stories such as these have been used to speak to so many effectively. It is no surprise that these stories endure, and shall continue to endure.