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Sue
A young artist and the protagonist of the story. Sue lives in New York City’s Greenwich Village with Johnsy and works as a commercial artist. Sue cares for Johnsy during her illness while also working in her studio to provide for both their needs. She strives to maintain an optimistic outlook about Johnsy’s recovery, frequently feeling frustrated by her roommate’s lack of hope.
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Johnsy
Sue’s roommate. Johnsy shares a studio apartment with Sue and has contracted pneumonia in the November pandemic. She has lost the will to live and is convinced that she’ll die when the last leaf falls from the vine she sees outside her window. She appears to ignore or disregard Sue’s efforts to encourage a brighter outcome, opting instead to remain in bed and refuse food.
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Mr. Behrman
Sue and Johnsy’s downstairs neighbor. Behrman is an older, failed artist who gets by on occasional commercial art projects and modeling for young artists in the neighborhood. He is gruff and prone to vice, yet he is protective of his young female neighbors. He has yet to produce his life’s masterpiece.
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The Doctor
A doctor treating Johnsy. He makes a house call to Sue and Johnsy’s apartment and diagnoses Johnsy’s pneumonia. He gives her little chance of recovery unless she gains the will to live. He returns at the end of the story to give a revised, optimistic diagnosis and to inform Sue that Mr. Behrman has also contracted pneumonia.
The Janitor
The janitor of the building where the story’s main characters live. He not only finds Mr. Behrman after he’s fallen ill, but he also discovers evidence suggesting that Mr. Behrman had painted the last leaf.
