Love letters have played a huge role in the society by acting as channels of expressing feelings of love, especially for people who find it awkward talking directly to each other. A great sense of agency always emerges from love letters, in the way writers of such letters try to demonstrate their motives and also influence the decision making of the correspondent. Agency does not mean the same as the terms, ‘free will’ or resistance. For instance, a person develops agency only after he or she has fully resisted an existing power. Writers of love letters develop a high level of agency which lets them demonstrate their feeling of love in a much broader way. How people talk about their agency in love letters is seen to empower them while at the same time, shows a rationalization for their limited options of action. There are various theories that explain the agency factor observed in love letters. One of the theories of agency is the practical theory which emphasizes on social influences on agency. Agency comes as a result of social circumstances which compel people to act in certain ways. This paper aims to discuss the agency manifested by writers in love letters using various theories of agency.
Back in the late 20 th century, many people used love letters as a way of expressing their agency and their inner love feelings. The practice ensued with increasing literacy levels of women in most societies. It was better when women had also learned how to write. This made court a good channel of expressing their feelings and agency. Most people find it quite difficult to adequately express their feelings directly to those whom they have sensual feelings. While in the physical presence of their significant other, most people are not able to show their agency and their innermost feelings. In love letters, however, a great sense of agency is seen, whereby, the writer tries as much as possible to get the attention of the corresponded and influence her or his decision making.
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Meta-agentive discourse is a factor seen in writers of love letters and their agency. Such people tend to write in a way that will bring out their inner feelings as well as gain the control of the correspondent. These writers aim to influence the decision making of the intended receiver of the letter and align that person to their interest in the issue at hand. Love letters are intended to persuade the beloved on behalf of the writer, to fall in love. In the letter, a strong sense of agency is seen, even by the reader, which will prove to the reader the seriousness in the writer. This way, the writer is able to influence the decision making of the reader or the correspondent. The agency plays a vital role in expressing the inner feelings of the writer as well as his seriousness.
The practice theory is an example of the theories of agency which talks about social influence on agency. According to the theory, people are bound by circumstances in society which influence their actions. Social norms and practices guide the actions of people. A strong sense of agency develops in people while they are bound by these norms and social practices. People are inwardly in need of channels through which they could show their agency without interfering with social norms and cultural practice. Agency goes against the inward resistance in people and tries to express the inner kept feelings of a person, those which people find difficult to openly talk about. In love letters, people find the exact agency channels through they can freely communicate.
The agency shown by writers in love letters brings out two different factors. As the writer puts down the texts in the letter, his agency gives him or her sense of empowerment which allows this person to pour down his or her innermost feelings. Through the empowerment, this person is able to communicate both, freely and also powerfully and gain the full attention of the recipient of the letter. On the other hand, the agency shown by writers of love letter also presents as a rationalization of their limited options for action. Some of these people are naturally shy and are not able to communicate freely to those they have feelings for. Other obstacles in the society may also make it difficult for people to meet and share their love together. The agency in love letters manifests this phenomenon and shows the lack of options which people have in expressing their feelings of love.
Agency in love letters plays an essential role in helping the individual express his or her own feelings and show the seriousness of the individual. This way, the recipient or the beloved is able to assess the writer's motives and get to understand these motives. Through the agency shown by the writer, the decision making of the recipient may be influenced. Various theories of agency such as the practice theory, as described above, try to explain the agency shown by writers in love letters. Agency in writing brings out a sense of empowerment in the writers as they present their feelings. This high level of agency also presents as a form of rationalization for the lack of options of action among writers.
