PLOT STRUCTURE ANALYSIS

Although the plot of The Bridge of San Luis Rey is relatively simple to understand, its presentation is fairly complex, for it is not told in chronological order or unified in a normal manner. In fact, the entire story is told as a series of flashbacks that span many years. The novel really begins with the climax of the plot. In the first chapter, there is an introduction to tell about the fall of the bridge of San Luis Rey and the impact that the accident has on the citizens of Peru, especially on Brother Juniper. As an eyewitness to the deaths of the five people on the bridge, Juniper decides that the accident is a providential act of God. To prove his point to his disciples, he decides to research the lives of the five victims and find why they have been punished. He spends six years interviewing their friends and relatives and collects all the information into a large book. The main things he learns about the victims are presented in chapters 2-4 of the book. Each of these chapters is devoted to one of the protagonists of the novel: the Marquesa, Esteban, and Uncle Pio. The fifth and final chapter serves as a conclusion, giving the outcome of Juniper's research.

The rising action of the plot begins in the second section. Wilder first tells about the life of Dona Maria, the Marquesa, and traces her relationships with her daughter and her companion, Pepita. Dona Maria, who was deprived of love by her parents and her husband, showers her pent-up emotion and love on her daughter, who rejects her mother. Deserted by Dona Clara and thwarted in her efforts to show love and affection, the Marquesa no longer cares about life. Feeling totally uncared for, she begins to behave in an eccentric manner, neglecting her health and her appearance. When she finally discovers that Pepita, the child from the orphanage, truly cares for her, she is elated, for it is the first time anyone has ever loved Dona Maria. She decides to reform herself and bestow her love on those who deserve it. With Pepita, Dona Maria heads home across the Bridge of San Luis Rey with a happy heart.

In the third chapter, Wilder traces the life of Esteban from infancy, when he and his twin are abandoned by their parents at the convent. Throughout his life, Esteban is devoted to Manuel, even when he falls in love with Camila. When his brother is injured and dying, Esteban never leaves his side. Manuel, however, turns on his twin, blaming him for destroying his relationship with Camila. When Manuel dies, Esteban is lost and feels guilty. He aimlessly wanders the streets of Lima. The Abbess, who has raised him, fears for his life. She approaches Captain Alvarado and begs him to take Esteban on his next voyage. The young man agrees and is traveling to the ship with a new purpose in life when he crosses the Bridge of San Luis Rey.

The fourth chapter narrates the story of Uncle Pio's life from the time he is ten. Leaving home at an early age, he is forced to do many odd jobs. Because of his determination, intellect, and craftiness, he succeeds at each task and carves a place for himself in the fashionable society of Lima. Enthralled with the theater, he adopts Camila and trains her to be a fine actress. In the process, he falls in love with her, but Camila deserts him, becoming the mistress of the Viceroy. Pio is miserable and lonely without her. Still hoping to forge a tie with her, he insists upon caring for her sickly son, Don Jamie, and looks forward to a life with the boy. As he crosses the bridge towards home with Jamie, he is happier than he has been since Camila departed.

The climax of the plot occurs when the Bridge of San Luis Rey breaks, killing the Marquesa, Pepita, Esteban, Uncle Pio, and Don Jamie. In their deaths the plot of the somewhat disjointed story is pulled together. The three adults on the bridge have all suffered from a lack of love. As they cross the bridge, they are heading to a new life, hoping to bring new meaning to their previously miserable existences. Fate, however, deprives them of the change to start anew when the accident occurs. Fate also places Brother Juniper as a witness to the deaths of the five victims.

The fifth and final chapter of the novel contains the falling action and outcome of the plot. The Archbishop, the Abbess, the Viceroy, and Captain Alvarado all attend the funeral at the Lima Cathedral in order to pay their respects and grieve over the loss of the victims. Camila tries to make it to the funeral, but she is so overcome with emotion over the loss of her precious son and Uncle Pio that she stops along the way. In the year after the funeral, Camila and Dona Clara travel to the Convent de Las Rosas. They want to share their grief with the Abbess. Camila regrets that she has not shown more love to Uncle Pio, just as Dona Clara grieves for how she has treated her mother. Both of them decide to share their love and wealth for the betterment of the poor and unfortunate. As a result, some small good comes out the tragic accident that occurs on the Bridge of San Luis Rey.

By the end of the novel, it is obvious to the reader that Wilder is masterful storyteller. Throughout the book he intertwines the lives of his very disparate characters, unifying the diverse plot. The Marquesa knows Uncle Pio and admires Camila. She also adopts Pepita from the Abbess, who has raised Esteban and Manuel. The twins become copyists in the theater, where Manuel falls in love with Camila. Camila, however, deserts the stage and Uncle Pio to become the mistress of the Viceroy, who is known by both Dona Maria and Pio. The plot, therefore, develops in an almost circular pattern. Each separate chapter adds new information about characters introduced in earlier chapters until a complete personality is developed. It is furthered unified by the appearance of Brother Juniper at the very beginning and very end of the book. By the time Brother Juniper and his book are burned at the end of the novel, Wilder has fully developed the lives and personalities of the five victims that Juniper so diligently studied.