Question

the author carefully build up an atmosphere of loneliness and grief in the story. discuss it

Answer 1

Dhumkethu has very intricately described the atmosphere of melancholy, loneliness and despair in the story The Letter. The beginning of the story describes Ali's walk to the post office. This is when the entire town is asleep and only few dogs bark far away. It is the hour just before the break of dawn when we see the sad and lonely Ali walking towards the post master, beginning yet another day anticipating the arrival of his daughter Miriam's letter. Few instances from inside the story would also describe the tone and atmosphere of melancholy that prevailed throughout. At the end, we see the post master despaired and very anxious about any news from his ill daughter who resided in a far off city. This scene also shows post master to be very secluded and sitting by the fireplace, alone and sad. 

Answer 2

1. such loneliness had come into his life since the day medium had gone away..


2. Tortured by doubt and remorse, he sat down in the glow of the charcoal sigri to wait

3. The vewly awakened father s heat in him was the reproaching him for having failed to understand Ali's anxiety ,for now he himself had to spend another night of restless anxiety

Grief

1. Now he understood the meaning of love and separation

2. He sat under a tree and wept bitterly.