COMPARE AND OR CONTRAST THE EFFECTS OF THE SETTING ON THE MAIN Essay

COMPARE AND OR CONTRAST THE EFFECTS OF THE SETTING ON THE MAIN CHARACTERS OF THE quest TWO SHORT STORIES. THE LAST LEAF, BY WILLIAM SIDNEY PORTER (O. HEN - Essay ExampleTo illustrate the various ways in which setting can be used to identify and mold the characters of a story, we will compare and contrast the effects of setting on the main characters involved in William Sidney Porters The Last Leaf (O. Henry) and Nadine Gordimers The Ultimate Safari.In The Last Leaf, the story opens with a description of the crazy and broken streets that make strange angles and curves. Immediately the referee is placed in mind of either a broken down part of town or an artists mecca, which indeed this area of town has become as we learn in the very next paragraph. As the area becomes associated with artists in the readers mind, an idea of the culture of the area becomes clear. With this connective to the land of imagination, creativity and make-believe, the reader is more inclined to believe one o f the main characters, Johnsy, would truly die once the last leaf fell from the ivy vines outside her window. This belief is, to some degree, also shared by her roommate Sudie and their downstairs neighbor, Mr. Behrman. Understanding that Sudies fear regarding the vine is strong enough to mention her business concern to their neighbor indicates this conviction of her roommates is at least halfway believable to the character. This is further emphasized as Sudie and Mr. Behrman peered out the window fearfully at the ivy vine. Then they looked at each other for a moment without speaking. Mr. Behrmans final masterpiece is also an indication of just how much he buys into the concept of an artist who might die simply based on her convictions.To contrast against this culture, this belief in the power of the vine to number out the time Johnsy has left to live, is not shared by the good doctor, who is not a part of the artist culture and cannot understand a woman who would live in nine to someday paint the bay of Naples but not for the hope of a good man. However, he is a good doctor who