The purpose of writing the letters varies, including manipulation, soliciting help, reconnecting with friends, and expressing personal anguish. They are used as literary devices to expose conflicts and deepen understanding of the narrative and characters.
The excerpts provided seem to derive from various works of literature, focusing on the motive and content of writing letters. The intentions behind these letters vary greatly, ranging from a desire to deceive or manipulate, a plea for help and clemency, an attempt to renew old friendships under dire circumstances, to expressions of sorrow and the hope for comfort or assistance. In literature, letter writing serves several purposes such as advancing the plot, revealing character traits and desires, and building suspense or dramatic tension.
In one instance, replacing a letter with a facsimile aims to secure political downfall; in other cases, letters serve as the last resort for help or to communicate with a trusted friend during times of distress. The emotional weight of these letters is evident as characters express grief, manipulate situations, or bond over shared experiences.
Thus, what all these letters have in common is their use as a literary device to expose personal and political conflicts, building a complex narrative web that deepens the reader's understanding of the characters and their situations.