Final: Literary Analysis: The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder

The Bridge of San Luis Rey is the story of a bridge in Lima, Peru that suddenly collapses on June 12^th 1714, killing five victims. Brother Juniper, a witness, decides to research the lives of the victims in order to prove that their deaths were simply, an act of God:fate. At the end of his research, Brother Juniper decides to publish a book with his findings. His book, however, was not well received leading his book, as well as himself to be burned in the public square. Although the mood of The Bridge of San Luis Rey seems to be somber, tragic and ironic, the major theme expressed through the characters of the novel is the importance of love in one’s life.

The Marquesa, Esteban, and Uncle Pio, three of the five victims of the accident, have struggled to feel loved throughout their whole lives. Just as they begin to attempt to put some new meaning in their existence, they ironically lose their lives crossing the bridge of San Luis Rey, which intensifies the tragic mood of the novel. Wilder does, however, succeed in exposing some humour through some of the personality traits of his characters to break this somber mood.

The Marquesa is the mother of Dona Clara, whom she adores. However, she feels distressed that Dona Clara does not reciprocate her love towards her. Throughout the novel, these two characters exchange letters to one another, from which the Marquesa feels rejected by her daughter’s love. It is only the night before her death that she understands the possibility of true love when she sees it written by her child companion, Pepita. That night, she discovered that love takes courage and decides to begin a new life, but it is too late for her to do so.

Esteban had always been inseperable with his twin borther Manuel. However, when Manuel fell in love with Camila, feelings of guilt and tension rose between the two brothers. These feelings never had a chance to disappear before Manuel’s death, leaving Esteban lonely with thoughts of suicide. However, after a while, Esteban discovers that love is never reciprocated perfectly and that it can survive death. From this point on, he decides to live life from an optimistic point of view. Esteban, however, never has the chance to do so as he dies at the fall of the bridge beforehand.

Uncle Pio was the guardian of Camila, who rejected his love and left him behind to become the mistress of the Viceroy. He continued to persue a life with countless romantic partners after this. Uncle Pio, unlike the other characters, fails to learn something about love; he fails to discover that love is more than a “sort of cruel malady”.

Despite the somber mood of the novel, the importance of love is one of the recognized themes of the novel. What is love and why does it matter to humain life? These are some of the unspoken questions which Wilder explores inside his novel.The five characters who lose their lives with the fall of the bridge, have all sought love during the life times. However, all of them were left feeling rejected by their search for love. After their deaths, their loved ones realize their worth and try to cherish their memories of them.They are all more open to love and do good to others, trying to compensate for the love they refused to give beforehand. As a result, even though five people die in a tragic accident, their love lives on through their loved ones.