Letter Writing in Literature
Letter writing has been a popular form of communication since ancient times, but it also plays an important role in literature. From the epistolary novels of the 18th century to modern-day correspondence, letter writing can be used to convey messages between characters and further plotlines. Letters provide a unique window into character development and motivations; they can reveal secrets that would otherwise remain hidden from readers or other characters. In addition, letters are often seen as powerful symbols of love, friendship, hope, and despair—they have become integral elements of many literary works throughout history.
History of Letter Writing in Literature
The earliest known example of letter writing in literature dates back to Ancient Greece with Homer's Odyssey (8th century BC). This epic poem contains several scenes where Odysseus sends letters home via messenger pigeons or ships. Later examples include Cicero's philosophical writings during the Roman Empire, which often included discussions on moral philosophy through correspondences between him and his friends. During the Middle Ages (5th–15th centuries), religious texts such as the Bible contained numerous references to written letters being sent by prophets and kings across continents—a practice continued today by world leaders around the globe who exchange diplomatic notes regularly.
By far, one of the most influential uses of letter writing was during the 17th and 18th centuries, when books composed entirely out of fictional letters became increasingly popular amongst European writers, such as Samuel Richardson's "Pamela: Or Virtue Rewarded" (1740), which is credited with launching what we now call "the epistolary novel" genre—stories told exclusively through a series of exchanged missives among its characters over a time period covered within the book itself. These types of stories were soon adopted by English Romantic poets like Lord Byron, whose famous work "Don Juan" (1819) featured extensive use of this type of narrative technique. Other notable authors who incorporated letter motifs into their pieces include Jane Austen ("Pride and Prejudice", 1813) and Leo Tolstoy ("Anna Karenina", 1877). Charlotte Bronte ("Jane Eyre"), Emily Dickinson ("Charles Dickens"), William Faulkner ("As I Lay Dying"), Ernest Hemingway ("For Whom the Bell Tolls").