Who is the best character in the story "The Last Leaf," and why?

There are only three main characters in "The Last Leaf." Johnsy is either listless or asleep most of the time, so she cannot be considered the best character. Sue and Old Behrman are both good characters, and it is interesting that O. Henry made them such strong contrasting types in so many ways. Behrman is an old man, Sue is a young woman. She is a native-born American, he speaks broken English with a thick...

There are only three main characters in "The Last Leaf." Johnsy is either listless or asleep most of the time, so she cannot be considered the best character. Sue and Old Behrman are both good characters, and it is interesting that O. Henry made them such strong contrasting types in so many ways. Behrman is an old man, Sue is a young woman. She is a native-born American, he speaks broken English with a thick German accent. Of the two, Behrman seems to be the most unique and complex character. O. Henry had to introduce a painter who liked the two girls, but the author did not want to jeopardize his surprise ending. He misleads the reader by bringing the German painter into the story because Sue needs him for a model; and O. Henry has Behrman express his contempt for the notion that Johnsy could die simply because she identifies with the last ivy leaf on the nearby vine.

“Vass!” he cried. “Is dere people in de world mit der foolishness to die because leafs dey drop off from a confounded vine? I haf not heard of such a thing. No, I will not bose as a model for your fool hermit-dunderhead. Vy do you allow dot silly pusiness to come in der prain of her? Ach, dot poor leetle Miss Yohnsy.”

The dialect and broken English make it a little hard to understand Berhman's thoughts and feelings. This is an advantage to the author because it makes it easier for him to mislead the reader about the old man's intentions.

Behrman is the best character because he is more complex than the two girls. He is much older and experienced. He has accepted his failure. He drinks to excess. He pretends to despise fantasies and feelings, and yet he sacrifices his life because of his feelings for both Sue and Johnsy. He is a failure as an artist, and yet he creates a masterpiece when he climbs the tall, steep ladder in the icy weather and paints a single leaf on the well as a gift which imparts his courage to the sick girl who has been watching and waiting for it to fall.