By smartcubs In the short story “A Letter to God” by Gregorio López y Fuentes, two central characters, Lencho and the postmaster, embody contrasting yet complementary traits that drive the narrative. Let’s delve into their character sketches to understand their roles better.
Lencho
Appearance and Background
- Origin: Lencho is a poor farmer who lives with his family in a small house on the top of a low hill.
- Appearance: Though the story doesn’t detail his physical appearance, Lencho can be imagined as a hardworking, weathered farmer typical of the rural landscape.
Personality Traits
- Hardworking: Lencho is depicted as a diligent and hardworking farmer who relies solely on his fields for his family’s sustenance.
- Faithful: Lencho has an unwavering faith in God. His belief is so strong that he writes a letter to God expecting divine intervention to help him through a crisis.
- Optimistic: Despite the devastation of his crops by a hailstorm, Lencho remains hopeful and optimistic, trusting that God will provide for his needs.
- Innocent and Naive: Lencho’s simple, uneducated nature leads him to believe that God can directly receive and respond to his letter.
Key Moments
- Writing the Letter: After his crops are destroyed, Lencho writes a heartfelt letter to God asking for 100 pesos to survive and replant his fields. This act shows his desperation and immense faith.
- Receiving the Response: When Lencho receives 70 pesos instead of 100, he becomes suspicious and believes that the remaining money was stolen by the post office employees, showing his trust in God but distrust in humans.
Quotes from the Story
- “God: if you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.”
- “God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested.”
The Postmaster
Appearance and Background
- Origin: The postmaster is an educated and compassionate individual working at the local post office.
- Appearance: Like Lencho, the postmaster’s physical appearance is not detailed, but he can be imagined as a kind and thoughtful middle-aged man.
Personality Traits
- Kind and Compassionate: Upon reading Lencho’s letter, the postmaster is moved by Lencho’s faith and decides to help him. He collects money from his colleagues and adds part of his salary to send to Lencho.
- Empathetic: The postmaster empathizes with Lencho’s plight and goes out of his way to support a stranger, reflecting his benevolent nature.
- Responsible: He takes on the responsibility of ensuring Lencho’s faith in God remains intact by sending a reply with the collected money.
Key Moments
- Reading the Letter: The postmaster’s initial amusement at Lencho’s letter turns into admiration for his faith, prompting him to take action.
- Collecting the Money: The postmaster’s efforts to gather funds from his colleagues highlight his leadership and persuasive abilities.
- Sending the Response: By signing the letter as “God,” the postmaster aims to preserve Lencho’s belief, showcasing his sensitivity and thoughtfulness.
Quotes from the Story
- “Never in his career as a postman had he known that address.”
- “It was impossible for him to gather together the hundred pesos, so he was able to send the farmer only a little more than half.”
Lencho and the postmaster in “A Letter to God” represent two sides of human nature: unwavering faith and selfless kindness. Their interactions provide a poignant commentary on belief, compassion, and the human condition.