Essay Questions

What model of communication is prevalent in the 17th century according to Thornton Wilder in his book The Bridge of San Luis Rey?

Despite being in the 17th century, the characters in the book The Bridge of San Luis Rey are in constant communication to keep in touch with their loved ones. In the second part of the book, Dona Maria and her daughter Clara are in constant communication through letters. When Clara matures, she runs away with her Spaniard lover without the consent of her mother. However, Maria is deeply in love with her daughter and the two write each other letters to ensure that they are constantly in touch. The same happens to Pepita who is homesick and writes letters more often to her family members to ensure that she is updated on what is happening while she is away.

How does the theme of seclusion manifest itself in The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder?

The three major characters who help the author to develop the theme of seclusion in The Bridge of San Luis Rey are Brother Juniper, Esteban, and Manuel. Brother Juniper is eager and determined to uncover the main reason why the five people died in the collapsed bridge of San Luis and this keeps him isolated from the members of his calling. He spends most of the time alone to contemplate the meaning of the demise of the five victims. On the other hand, Esteban and Manuel are twins who are so attached at first and they do most of their things together. They share many things in common, however, things take a drastic turn for Esteban when his brother dies. Esteban remains lonely and most of the time he isolates himself from other people. It is also evident that Esteban tries to commit suicide because he does not want to imagine that his brother is no more.

Is Esteban’s demise figurative in any way?

Esteban's accidental demise represents the misperception nature of death in society. The author wants to help the reader understand that death is inevitable and it is vital for people to accept death and move on with life. After the death of his brother, Esteban finds it hard to continue living because of loneliness. Esteban is not able to move on with life and he decides to commit suicide but his attempt fails. When Esteban finally dies, the reader understands that he has been wishing to die. Therefore, the author concludes that the best way to deal with death is to accept it and move on with life.