Stories such as “Gwilan’s Harp” by Ursula K. LeGuin, “The Washwoman” by Isaac Singer, and “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry have amazing themes. Every main character struggled with the loss of something or someone close to her that could have kept her moving forward in her life. LeGuin allowed the reader to experience what Gwilan felt when Torm died and the pain she endured from not being able to play the harp any longer. Not only did the washwoman live through the loss of her family's support, but also the deterioration of her physical strength. "The Last Leaf" dealt with the losses of hope and a friendly neighbor. Whenever they lost something or someone, they fought through the pain. They focused on the joy and peace of others and did so honestly.
Gwilan loved to play the harp to whoever would listen. During a trip with Torm, a man she met, she fell and broke her wrist, preventing her from playing the harp, which she loved. Gwilan and Torm married and God blessed them with two boys. When
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Gwilan, the washwoman, and Johnsy learned that making others happy gave them joy as well. Each main character dealt with the life she had, even though she encountered struggles along the way. When she hit a wall, she pushed through it and adapted. Gwilan found a way to change the way she lived after Torm died, and she moved on through the pain. Experiencing joy doing so, the washwoman kept making others’ lives run smoothly until her last breath. Although Gwilan and the washwoman found interior strength to push through their losses, Johnsy needed outside help. Without Behrman’s act of kindness, Johnsy’s doubt would have consumed her. These stories tell the reader how showing kindness to others, learning to let things go, and not losing hope lead a happy life. Sometimes the strength to endure comes from within; other times, someone else provides the