English, asked by anithasridhar1ou7foy, 1 year ago

diseased mind is more haremful than the disease itself


anithasridhar1ou7foy: how is this depicted in the story of last leaf??

Answers

Answered by Anonymous
0
Hi friend,

The idea that a "diseased mind can be more dangerous than the disease itself" is shown in Johnsy's defeatist attitude. A sick man can have a speedy recovery if he has hope and will to live. Johnsy has lost all her hope to survive and so her condition becomes more critical. She has lost her will to live and so even the medicines fail to have any positive effect on her. Her negative thoughts do not let her think of her ambitions to fulfill which she might desire to live. Nor does she think of Sue, who has her only friend in Johnsy and totally depends on the latter for emotional support.

She associates the last ivy leaf with her life and develops a fancy that when the last leaf falls, she will pass away from this world.She keeps waiting for her death. When the doctor examines her, he tells Sue that when people start to think of dying, he subtracts "50 per cent."

The author thus shows that a diseased mind is more harmful and even dangerous than the disease itself. Her negative thinking is on the verge of ruining her life.However her friend's wise decision and Behrman's masterpiece save her.

Hope it helps!
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