In many traditional plays, we are accustomed to seeing action take place rather than physical letters alongside dialogue. The use of poetry and letters in this play allows for a deeper, emotional level that can further peak the audience’s interest; it makes it more raw. The playwright chose to use poetry and letters because it shows a more personal and unfiltered viewpoint of the character’s emotions. For instance, when we see a traditional play, those true emotions could be hidden through dialogue. A letter shows emotional vulnerability that is given from the mind straight to pen to paper. Being that the play revolves around two distanced siblings, Fran and Luis, the letters give them the opportunity to communicate from different spaces. Poetry, on the other hand, channels these emotions through metaphor and symbolism to express what dialogue cannot. The effect that these two elements have on the audience allows for them to engage in a different way than they’re used to; they can dive into different emotional layers of the play and look through the characters’ intentions. Instead of physical actions, the letters serve to get information about the characters and as previously mentioned, find out their intentions which is crucial to moving the plot forward. Although the letters replace actions, they provide insight and depth that simple body language couldn’t give. What better way to know what a character is thinking than to hear their thoughts aloud? A great example of this would be the first entry we’re presented with as the audience; “LUIS: Dear Francisquita, In spite of my long silence, you’ve been in my mind. I have not written because nothing is very interesting in my life. I wrote you three weeks ago and then 15 days ago. Each time I looked at the letter, I felt embarrassed. I tried to be cheerful, but it sounded insincere…you went to the Metropolitan Museum with a friend and imagined I was there looking at the paintings with you. What a lovely thought. I wish I had been there with you. Your loving brother, Luis” (Fornes 11)  This being the first entry we see is very important because it sets off the circumstances of things. For example, we wouldn’t have known that the last time he wrote to his sister was 15 days ago or that his sister was thinking about him as well at the time. We wouldn’t have known his emotions of embarrassment and worry without his writing. It gives us an idea of how things are and how they could play out. It also gives the audience a sense of curiosity of what’s to come. I believe that the different use of literary mediums allows us to know the characters in a different way than traditional action and body language would often give. Speaking as someone who journals, letters or poetry, or any written words are very vulnerable and a great way to figure out the type of person someone is. These elements compensate well for the lack of traditional play elements. Overall, the inclusion of poetry and letters allow for a deeper narrative of a play and a more emotional experience for not only the characters but for the audience as well.

Work Cited

Fornés, María Irene. “Letters from Cuba,” in Letters from Cuba and Other Plays. First edition., PAJ Publications, 2007