A Letter to God
-Gregorio Lopez Fuentes (Mexican Author) 1895- 1966
Written in- 1940.
Theme-
1. Faith can move mountains.
2. Unwavering (unshakeable/ unbreakable faith of a farmer in God
3. Highlights the power and unpredictability of nature,
4. Emphasizes the importance of clear communication and how misunderstandings can
have serious consequences.
5. Hope and faith can be powerful forces in our lives, even when we are faced with
difficult circumstances.
6. Kindness and humanity exist alongside faith in God.
7. Extreme faith in the Almighty can give you a ray of hope even in the darkest times.
Nature and its Destructive Side
The story also explores nature and its destructive power.
The rain, accompanied by hailstones, destroys Lencho’s fields and ruins his crops.
It shows that ultimately in the conflict between man and nature, it is nature which
ultimately triumphs.
Q1. Lencho received the money and a letter from God still, he was
not happy. What does this story highlight?
A1. A Letter to God reveals a profound lesson about happiness
and gratitude. Despite his unwavering faith in God, Lencho's
happiness was subject to his expectations. His reaction to receive
70 pesos instead of the requested/demanded 100 pesos reflects a
lack of appreciation for the blessings bestowed upon him.
However, it's essential to recognize that Lencho's dissatisfaction
emerged from a misunderstanding rather than ingratitude
(disrespect/lack of thankfulness). His innocence and optimism are
evident in his continued belief that God would provide, as seen in
his subsequent letter. Ultimately, Lencho's story highlights the
importance of cultivating gratitude and embracing life's blessings,
even when they don't align with our expectations.
By nurturing an attitude of optimism and faith, individuals can
find contentment and joy in life's journey, regardless of its twists
and turns.
This tale tells us to appreciate what we have and trust in the
greater plan, leading to a more fulfilling and happy life.
Q2. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the
money? Describe the ironic ending of the story.
A2. Lencho, in his unwavering/firm faith, believed that God had
sent the initial amount of money to help him in his time of need.
However, upon counting the money and finding it to be less than
he had expected, he concluded that someone had stolen the rest,
suspecting the post-office employees. In a second letter to God,
he requested the remaining amount, expressing distrust in the
postal system.
The irony lies in the fact that Lencho, who had full faith in God's
intervention, ultimately accused those who had collected money
to help him - the post-office employees - of theft. He remained
unaware of the truth until the end, unable to recognize the
benevolent act of the employees. This ironic twist discusses the
theme of blind faith and misjudgment, highlighting the contrast
between Lencho's expectations and the reality of the situation.
Q3. Give the aptness of the title of the story.
A3. The title, “A Letter to God” is highly appropriate for the story. The entire events and
morals of the story revolve around the letter that Lencho writes to God. The first letter is
reflective of his faith, belief and unmatched trust. The perception of the letter by the
postman reflects the inability of certain humans to understand the problems of other
beings and be judgmental. Further, when the letter is transferred to the postmaster,
there is a revelation of humanity that prevails once he comprehends the necessity and
faith of Lencho. It is because of the letter the post office staff tries their best to help
Lencho in every way.
When Lencho writes the second letter to God, it reflects his expectations and annoyance
as a result of his disappointment. The second letter further is proof of his
misconceptions and thoughts regarding the authorities of the post office. He believes in
the idea of the existence of God but extremely fails to even believe in humans and
humanity. Lencho can be perceived as someone highly unaware and innocent but his
lack of gratitude questions his optimism.
As the letter reaches the post office, it only lands on a disappointing note for the efforts
of the employees. It makes the readers realise that even though they helped, they could
not completely satisfy the requirements and only the latter stands out for Lencho. He
further goes on to call them “a bunch of crooks” which further explains how the
authorities are perceived by the community.
Q4. Give the examples of Metaphor and Irony.
A4. Fuentes makes use of metaphor in the story to draw unlikely comparisons between
things.
Some examples of metaphor are:
In the phrase ‘Huge mountains of clouds’ the author draws a comparison between
‘mass/hugeness’ of mountains with the clouds.
The author compares the raindrops with new coins. This shows that Lencho is hoping
the harvest will bring him money (new coins)- precious and round
The hailstones have been called ‘the frozen pearls’. Lencho was unhappy with the
beautiful hailstones as they destroyed his yield.- appearance
Through the phrase ‘a plague of locusts’, locusts have been compared with a disaster
that spreads rapidly and destroys everything, just like the hailstorm.-massive /
extensive destruction
The author compares Lencho with an ox in the phrase ‘An ox of a man’, meaning, he
is a hardworking man, just like an ox works hard in the fields.
Irony
Irony is when words are used to express something that is very different from the
actual meaning.
The author has given the story an ironic ending.
The people at the post office had helped Lencho out of genuine intent, but ironically,
Lencho blames them for stealing his thirty pesos.
Lencho believes God had sent him the money but it is actually the people at the post
office had sent the money.
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