Question #2

In Letters from Cuba, the characters’ longing to bridge the physical and emotional gaps between them is central, explored through symbolic means. Luis and Fran are separated by distance, Luis in Cuba and Fran in New York, both seeking ways to connect across the physical divide that has grown between them. This desire for connection is expressed through the creative imagination;  letters, and dreamlike moments/ references that bend the rules of space and time. Art, expression and spirituality emerge as key tools for navigating this separation, reflecting deeper themes of longing, memory, home, and the search for meaning.

One of the main ways Fran and Luis try to stay connected is through their letters. These serve as emotional lifelines, allowing them to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences across the physical distance that separates them. Luis’s letters, in particular, are filled with nostalgia and a deep confliction between remaining complacent or getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, to thrust himself into uncertainty. They reflect his emotional attachment to Cuba, his family, and his community, revealing the tension between his desire to stay rooted in the familiar and his awareness of the world changing around him. Spirituality also plays a subtle but significant role. For Luis, his fear of leaving Cuba is tied to his sense of belonging and identity. Cuba is not just a physical home, it represents a spiritual connection to his sense of self. The thought of leaving feels like abandoning the foundation of his identity. Fran, by contrast, is more forward looking, suggesting a different spiritual approach that embraces change. However, while the letters help maintain their relationship, they also display the challenges of communicating across distance, plagued by waiting, longing, and the emotional strain of being apart.

Creative artistic expression is central to how Fran and Luis attempt to connect emotionally, but their approaches differ. Fran, who is more rooted in the present, is portrayed as an avid poet and a sensual woman who uses dance as a form of fluid artistic expression. Her creative outlets, like poetry and dance, reflect a lighthearted, progressive, free flowing approach to life. Scenes set in her apartment in New York are often carefree and filled with a sense of youthful energy. We rarely see Fran engage in serious contemplation or be burdened by her emotions. Instead, her apartment feels like a space of freedom, where she expresses herself through art and movement, displaying her ability to process her drastic change in lifestyle without feeling tied to her past. In contrast, Luis’s scenes in Cuba are much heavier, not to be misrepresented as grim and unfortunate, but marked by introspection and emotional conflict. “ where we have always been . . . not capable of taking a step . . . separating ourselves from what we know … from what is familiar . . . and close to our hearts … not capable of starting … starting to coexist with an unfamiliar world, something inside fearful … something that makes one … like cripples. sort of. The young are eager … But for us, the eagerness goes. We prefer what is familiar . . . and remember the past.” (Fornes, 29). His world feels weighed down by his deep attachment to his family and his community. He processes his emotional struggles through writing these letters to Fran, which becomes an outlet for his nostalgia, homesickness, and sense of loss. Unlike Fran, who uses creativity to move forward, Luis’s letters reveal how deeply he is anchored to the past, unable to easily transition into the future. His emotional state is riddled with conflict, he’s caught between his desire to remain in Cuba, where his identity feels grounded, and the pressure to leave because his family has also chosen to leave for the sake of better. His scenes are burdened by this inner turmoil, leaving the audience in anticipation and filled with a sense of unresolved tension.

The play’s dreamlike elements reflect a deeper, symbolic form of connection. In one surreal moment, Luis drops a letter from his apartment in New York, and Fran catches it in Cuba, defying the physical reality of their separation. “As FRAN starts to enter the apartment through the hallway door, Lurs tosses a letter down to her. She catches it and enters the apartment, reading the letter as Luis reads softly in the background, coming out onto the roof directly over the New York apartment.” (Fornes, 14). This moment represents how their emotional connection transcends physical distance, emphasizing that their bond is strong even if they are far apart, but also represents Luis’ fear. I think that it’s ironic that the play is centered around their great physical distance, however they are in such close proximity to each other. Similarly, when Luis appears in Fran’s apartment but hides from her, it symbolizes his fear of confronting his emotions directly, even though their connection is real and present on a deeper level. These surreal, ironic moments represent the fluidity of dreams and the imaginary, where the constraints of time and space do not apply and emotional truths are revealed more clearly. The theme of dreams is important to how the play explores connection. Dreams offer a space where the characters’ subconscious desires, fears, and longings can be easily expressed. Much like in the play’s surreal moments, the boundaries of reality blur, allowing the characters without conviction. Luis’s presence in Fran’s apartment, though short, reflects his deep emotional need to reconnect with her, even if fear holds him back from fully embracing it.

Ultimately, the play suggests that the desire for connection transcends the physical world, operating on emotional and spiritual levels. By incorporating elements of dreams and artistic expression, Letters from Cuba demonstrates that connection can be achieved through imagination, vulnerability, and creativity. 

Works Cited
Fornes, Irene Maria. Letters From Cuba, 2000