A LETTER TO GOD LESSON SUMMARY AND IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

 

A LETTER TO GOD

“A Letter to God" is a story about a farmer named Lencho who has very strong faith in God. Lencho and his family are poor, and they depend on their corn crop to live. One day, a hailstorm destroys all his corn. Lencho is very sad and worried because he doesn't know how his family will survive until the next crop.

Lencho believes God can help him, so he writes a letter asking God for a hundred pesos (money) to get by. He takes the letter to the post office and addresses it to God. The post office workers find the letter funny, but the postmaster is touched by Lencho's faith. The postmaster decides to help Lencho. He collects money from his coworkers and friends and adds some of his own money. They manage to gather seventy pesos, not the full hundred Lencho asked for.

The postmaster puts the money in an envelope and addresses it to Lencho. When Lencho receives the envelope, he is not happy. He is angry because he believes God sent him the full hundred pesos, but only seventy arrived. Lencho thinks the post office workers stole the rest of the money. He writes another letter to God, asking for the remaining thirty pesos and warning God not to send it through the post office because he thinks they are thieves.

This story shows how strong Lencho's faith in God is, but also how he misunderstands the good actions of the postmaster and his team. They tried to help, but Lencho couldn't see that. He only believed in what he thought God would do.

Character Sketch of the Postmaster

Kind and Compassionate: The postmaster shows a deep sense of kindness and compassion when he encounters Lencho's letter to God. Initially amused by Lencho's naivety, he quickly shifts to feeling a sense of empathy for the farmer's plight. This shift highlights his compassionate nature. He is moved by Lencho’s faith and genuinely wants to help alleviate his suffering.

Generous: Demonstrating generosity, the postmaster goes beyond merely feeling pity for Lencho. He takes tangible action by organizing a collection among the postal employees and even contributing a portion of his own salary. This act of generosity underscores his willingness to sacrifice for others, even those he does not personally know.

Resourceful and Determined: The postmaster's resourcefulness is evident in his efforts to gather the money for Lencho. Despite knowing that gathering the full amount would be challenging, he is determined to collect as much as possible. His ability to rally his colleagues and friends to contribute demonstrates his leadership and persuasive abilities.

Empathetic: Empathy is a central trait of the postmaster. He is able to put himself in Lencho's shoes and understand the desperation that drove him to write a letter to God. This empathy fuels his motivation to help, as he recognizes the depth of Lencho's faith and the severity of his need.

Optimistic and Hopeful: The postmaster is hopeful that his gesture will preserve Lencho's faith in God and bring him some relief. He believes that by sending the money, even if it is not the full amount, Lencho will feel supported and cared for. His optimism is evident in his expectation that Lencho will be grateful for the help he receives.

Unacknowledged Hero: Despite his good intentions and efforts, the postmaster remains an unacknowledged hero. Lencho’s reaction—accusing the postal workers of stealing some of the money—leaves the postmaster’s good deed unrecognized and unrewarded. This aspect of his character highlights the often thankless nature of true altruism.

In summary, the postmaster in "A Letter to God" is a kind-hearted, generous, and empathetic individual who goes out of his way to help a stranger. His actions reflect a deep sense of humanity and selflessness, making him a pivotal character in the story who embodies the themes of compassion and faith.

Character Sketch of Lencho

Faithful: Lencho has a very strong belief in God. When his corn crop is destroyed by a hailstorm, he writes a letter to God asking for help. This shows that he trusts God completely to solve his problems.

Hardworking: Lencho is a dedicated farmer who works hard to provide for his family. The destruction of his corn crop deeply affects him because he knows how much effort he put into growing it.

Hopeful: Even after losing his crop, Lencho doesn’t give up hope. He believes that God will send him the money he needs to get through the tough times. This hope keeps him going despite the disaster.

Innocent and Naive: Lencho is very simple-minded. He truly believes that God will receive his letter and send him the money directly. This shows his innocence and lack of understanding about how the world works.

Grateful but Misunderstanding: When Lencho receives the money from the post office, he is not happy. He believes God sent him the full amount (a hundred pesos) but that the post office workers stole some of it. He doesn't realize that the postmaster and others collected the money to help him. This misunderstanding shows how his simple faith can sometimes lead to confusion.

Dedicated to Family: Lencho’s main concern is his family. He wants to make sure they have enough to survive until the next harvest. His actions are driven by his love and responsibility towards his family.

In summary, Lencho is a hardworking and hopeful farmer with a strong faith in God. His innocence and dedication to his family make him a sympathetic character, even though his misunderstanding leads to unintended consequences.

Conflict Between Man and Man

The conflict between man and man in "A Letter to God" is primarily seen in the misunderstanding between Lencho and the post office workers. Here’s how it unfolds:

Lencho vs. Post Office Workers:

• Misunderstanding: Lencho believes that God sent him the full hundred pesos he asked for, but he only receives seventy pesos. He immediately assumes that the post office workers have stolen the missing thirty pesos.
• Accusation: Lencho's unwavering faith in God's provision leads him to distrust the post office workers. He writes another letter to God, accusing them of theft and asking for the remaining money, which shows his inability to recognize their good intentions.
• Irony: The postmaster and his colleagues genuinely try to help Lencho out of compassion, yet their effort goes unappreciated and even maligned by Lencho. This creates a stark irony, as their kind act leads to an unfounded accusation of dishonesty.

Conflict Between Man and Nature

The conflict between man and nature is evident in the destructive hailstorm that ruins Lencho’s corn crop. Here’s a breakdown:

Lencho vs. Hailstorm:

• Destruction: Lencho’s entire livelihood depends on his corn crop. When a severe hailstorm hits, it destroys the crops completely, leaving Lencho and his family in a dire situation.
• Helplessness: The natural disaster highlights Lencho's vulnerability and helplessness in the face of nature’s power. Despite his hard work and care for the crops, he cannot prevent or control the damage caused by the hailstorm.
• Desperation: The destruction of his crop by natural forces drives Lencho to seek help from a higher power, showcasing his desperation and reliance on faith to combat the adversities posed by nature.

CONCLUSION

In "A Letter to God," the conflicts highlight the themes of faith, misunderstanding, and the human struggle against uncontrollable natural forces. The conflict between man and man arises from a misunderstanding and highlights the irony of good intentions being misinterpreted. The conflict between man and nature underscores the vulnerability and helplessness of humans when faced with natural disasters, driving Lencho to seek divine intervention. Together, these conflicts enrich the narrative, showing the complexities of human faith and the unpredictable challenges posed by nature.