Summary
Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey is a literary masterpiece that won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1928. Set in 18th-century Peru, this thought-provoking novel explores the interconnected lives of five individuals who perish when an Inca rope bridge collapses. Wilder's profound examination of love, fate, and the human condition has captivated readers for nearly a century.
First published in 1927, The Bridge of San Luis Rey quickly gained international acclaim and became a bestseller. The novel's enduring popularity has led to several adaptations, with the most notable being the 2004 film starring Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates, and Harvey Keitel. At its core, The Bridge of San Luis Rey grapples with profound philosophical questions about the nature of existence, the role of divine providence in human affairs, and the intricate web of relationships that bind us together.
Plot
On July 20, 1714, a bridge in Peru collapsed, killing five people. Brother Juniper, a Franciscan friar who witnesses the accident, decides to investigate the lives of the victims to determine if their deaths were part of God's plan. He spends six years compiling information and writing a book about the incident, hoping to provide evidence of divine providence.
The novel focuses on three of the victims. The first is the Marquesa de Montemayor, an eccentric noblewoman known for her beautiful letters to her estranged daughter in Spain. She dies alongside her companion, Pepita, a young girl from the local convent. The second victim is Esteban, a twin who becomes suicidal after his brother's death and is on the verge of starting a new life when the bridge collapses.
The third story revolves around Uncle Pio and the young boy Don Jaime. Uncle Pio is a former tutor and confidant to the famous actress Camila Perichole. When Perichole retreats from public life after being disfigured by smallpox, Uncle Pio convinces her to let him take her son, Don Jaime, to Lima for education. Both perished in the bridge collapse.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, the novel explores how the deaths affect those left behind. The Abbess of the local convent becomes a central figure, offering comfort to Perichole and the Marquesa's daughter. Brother Juniper's book is eventually deemed heretical and burned along with its author. The novel concludes with the Abbess's reflection that love is the bridge between the living and the dead, the only thing that gives life meaning.
Themes
Faith and divine providence
Love as a bridge between life and death
The search for meaning in tragedy
The interconnectedness of human lives
The power of human relationships
The role of chance versus fate
Personal growth through adversity
Setting
Set in Peru during the early 18th century, The Bridge of San Luis Rey unfolds against the backdrop of Spanish colonial rule. The story primarily takes place in 1714, a time when the Inca Empire's legacy still loomed large, intertwining with the imposed European culture. This era was marked by stark contrasts between the opulent lives of the colonial elite and the indigenous population's struggles under Spanish governance.
The novel's geographical focus centers on Lima, the capital of the Viceroyalty of Peru, and the surrounding areas. Lima serves as the bustling heart of colonial activity, where much of the story's action unfolds. The titular bridge, however, is located on the road between Lima and Cuzco, the former Inca capital. This remote setting, spanning a deep ravine, symbolizes the precarious connection between the old and new worlds.
Wilder's narrative also explores other significant locations within colonial Peru. The shrine of Santa María de Cluxambuqua, a pilgrimage site, features prominently in the story. Additionally, the Convent of Santa María Rosa de las Rosas in Lima plays a crucial role, serving as a sanctuary and central point for several characters' intersecting lives. These varied settings provide a rich tapestry of colonial Peruvian society, from the corridors of power to the far-flung corners of the viceroyalty.
Characters
Brother Juniper: A Franciscan friar who witnesses the bridge collapse. He spends six years investigating the victims' lives to prove divine intervention. His quest for empirical evidence of God's plan leads to his own demise. Brother Juniper's story frames the novel and raises its central philosophical questions.
Doña María (Marquesa de Montemayor): A wealthy, unattractive noblewoman with a gift for letter writing. She has a strained relationship with her daughter Clara and seeks meaning through her correspondence. Doña María's journey of self-discovery and her ultimate act of bravery before her death on the bridge form a central part of the narrative.
Esteban: One of a pair of twin brothers raised in the convent. After his brother Manuel's death, Esteban struggles with grief and identity. His story explores themes of loss, brotherhood, and the search for purpose. Esteban's presence on the bridge at the time of its collapse is a result of his inner turmoil and attempted redemption.
Uncle Pio: A jack-of-all-trades who becomes mentor and confidant to the actress Camila Perichole. His devotion to Camila and Spanish literature drives his actions. Uncle Pio's complex relationship with Camila and his final journey with her son Don Jaime illuminate themes of love, art, and aging.
Pepita: A young girl raised in the convent who becomes a companion to Doña María. Her brief life and honest letter provide a catalyst for Doña María's growth. Pepita represents innocence and authenticity in the novel.
Don Jaime: The young son of Camila Perichole, who suffers from seizures. His presence on the bridge with Uncle Pio represents the connection between generations and the unpredictability of fate.
Camila Perichole: A famous actress and courtesan, discovered and mentored by Uncle Pio. Her rise to fame, relationships, and eventual disfigurement by smallpox form a significant subplot. Perichole's story illustrates themes of beauty, ambition, and the transience of worldly success.
Abbess Madre María del Pilar: The head of the Convent of Santa María Rosa de las Rosas. She cares for orphans and seeks to continue her charitable work. The Abbess serves as a moral center in the novel and offers wisdom to other characters.
Captain Alvarado: A sailor and explorer who attempts to help Esteban find purpose after Manuel's death. He represents adventure and the possibility of new beginnings.
Manuel: Esteban's twin brother who dies from an infected wound. His love for Perichole and subsequent death set in motion Esteban's story arc.
Quick facts
The Bridge of San Luis Rey won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1928, just one year after it was published.
It was Thornton Wilder's second novel and his first major literary success.
The book was inspired in part by Prosper Mérimée's one-act play Le Carrosse du Saint-Sacrement.
Wilder based the character of the Marquesa partly on the famous French letter-writer Madame de Sévigné.
The novel has been adapted into four films, including versions in 1929, 1944, 1958, and 2004.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair quoted from the book during the memorial service for victims of the September 11 attacks.
The Bridge of San Luis Rey was ranked #37 on the Modern Library's list of the 100 best English-language novels of the 20th century.
Wilder claimed he invented the bridge in the story, though it was likely inspired by a real Incan bridge.
The novel's central theme explores whether there is meaning in seemingly random events like accidents.
An opera based on the novel, composed by Hermann Reutter, premiered in Germany in 1954.
About the Author
Thornton Wilder (1897-1975) was an acclaimed American playwright and novelist who received numerous prestigious awards for his work. He won three Pulitzer Prizes; for his novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey in 1928 and for his plays Our Town in 1938 and The Skin of Our Teeth in 1943. Wilder also received the National Book Award for his novel The Eighth Day in 1968.
Born in Wisconsin, Wilder spent part of his childhood in China when his father was stationed there as a U.S. diplomat. He went on to study at Oberlin College, Yale University, and Princeton University. Wilder taught French at the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey and later taught at the University of Chicago from 1930 to 1937. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force Intelligence, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
As a writer, Wilder explored the connection between everyday human experiences and universal truths. His most famous works include the novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey and the play Our Town, which employs a minimalist set and breaks the fourth wall with its use of a narrator. Wilder was also a talented translator, adapting plays from French and writing libretti for operas. He even wrote the screenplay for Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller Shadow of a Doubt.
Throughout his career, Wilder received numerous honors beyond his Pulitzer Prizes and National Book Award. These included the Gold Medal for Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Germany's Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. His works continue to be read and performed around the world, cementing his legacy as one of the great American writers of the 20th century.
