The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder - Book Report/Review Example

Book Report List at least five s that are used in the book and the meaning of each Marquesa De Montemayor, also known as Dona Maria: Dona Maria is the mother to Dona Clara and she is intensely superstitious and religious (Wilder 5). Dona Maria adores Dona Clara her daughter most. However, Marquesa is one of the accident victims that occurred at the bridge of San Luis Rey (Wilder 5). Estebans and Manuela: Estebans and Manuela are orphans twins who were brought up by the Abbess. They have an identical look that baffle people (Wilder 5). Estebans and Manuela understand the feelings of each other. Manuela had fallen in love with Camila and this caused a feeling of tension and guilt between him and the brother (Wilder 5). Uncle Pio: Uncle Pio is a guardian of Camila Perichole. Uncle Pio is shrewd and cunning (Wilder 6). Uncle Pio wins many peoples’ favor because he has a personality that is pleasing. Camila Perichole: Camila is cared for by uncle Pio. She is an actress that flirtatious, vain and brilliant. Camila isolates herself from the world after small pox stricken her (Wilder 7). She finally joins a convent helping the unfortunate children. Dona Clara: Dona Clara is the daughter of Marquesa and she is clever and proud (Wilder 9). She leads a life of luxury when she got married to a lord in Spain. Dona Clara encourages her talent being a connoisseur of art (Wilder 9). Pepita:Pepita is an orphan taken care in the hands of Abbess (Wilder 9). Pepita is lonely and she helps Maria De Pilar carrying out the convent activities. Pepita also lost her life in the bridge accident along with Dona Maria (Wilder 9). 2. List at least five non-English words, colloquialisms, or words unfamiliar to you that are used in the book and the meaning of each. Condesa- The statement the dear mother of Juniper wrote (p. 4) Jests – shows something terrifying (Wilder 22) Incan civilization (Wilder 43) - civilization that is not u Sacristan (Wilder 65) - a person in charge of sacristy. Ilama (Wilder 67) - a lady with long neck shallow eyes that are sweet. 3. Decide whether this book tells a story of redemption or defeat The book tells a story of redemption. Redemption refers to the deliverance from sufferings (Wilder 15). When Dona Clara was pregnant, Marquesa took with her Pepita. Pepita was a lonely orphan girl. Marquesa had identified the loneliness of Pepita and the need for attention thus befriending her. On their way back both get involved in the accident and die. This could be a way of saving Pepita from the suffering of the world. Estebans together with his twin brother found life to be harsh and confining (Wilder 18). Estebans got a chance to work in a ship and he was heading to Lima to begin the journey with the Captain, the bridge breaks thus dying. This death saves Estebans from more sufferings. The time and place where the book is set refers to the setting of the book kin general term. This paragraph discusses the setting of the book of The Bridge of San Luis Rey. The book is set in and around Lima which is the capital of Peru (Wilder 23). The setting was done in the eighteenth century. The city was beautiful and it was inspired by the religion of Catholic. Principles of Christianity were instilled by the staunch Catholics like Brother Juniper and Abbess to people like Estebans, Pepita who were uninitiated (Wilder 23). However, there are several settings outside of Lima during the novel (Wilder 23). In conclusion, the setting of the book is not based on one place and this makes the book to include more happenings. During the setting of the book of The Bridge of San Luis Rey, the political structure of the Lima city was not accommodative. The government had no laws and regulations and regulation that could protect the desperate citizens from exploitation (Wilder 24). Camila being poor was forced to travel from place to place without payment or appreciation (Wilder 24). This shows that Camila had no place to report the mistreatment or the government did not care about such issues. Camila also had odd clothes showing the government was not politically stable to have leaders who could check on such matters (Wilder 26). One of the religions mentioned in the book is the Christianity religion (Wilder 32). The capital of Peru was a city that beautiful and the catholic religion inspired it. The book tells that Marquesa was superstitious and religious. The likes of brother Juniper and Abbess who were staunch Catholics tried instilling the principles of Christianity to the non-Christians (Wilder 33). Another religion that is evident in the story is Hinduism. Brother juniper and abbess tried to instill the Christianity principles to the Indian converts (Wilder 33). Some are also pagans as portrayed by Marquesa who is superstitious. The religions in the book play a role of showing the type of society the setting was done. Those who died in the accident are buried at the cathedral church (Wilder 35). In every story or play, the actors and actress employ the use of literary arts in their literature works to make the story more interesting and appealing to the readers and audiences (Wilder 36). The paragraph contains some of the literary arts used in the book. The bridge in the story in the story is symbolic. The bridge can be used to show the separation between two different things (Wilder 39). Abbess arrives at the realization when the story ends that the bridge between the living and the dead is love. The use of orthodox has been employed in the book. The story tells us that the Brother Juniper’s generation shall be spared (Wilder 42). They were always with them. Brother Juniper thought he saw the wicked visited by destruction and the good was called early to heaven, in the same accident (Wilder 42). The book has symbolic statements. The accident has been compared by some people to mean that those who died in the accident are like the flies that the boys kill on a day of summer (Wilder 44). Some people believed that the furrows cannot lose a feather that God’s finger has not brushed away (p. 45). In conclusion, the literary arts used in the book makes the readers to draw conclusions based on their understandings. Sex, love and commitment are different things as portrayed in the story. In order to clarify the difference, the writer of the story has researched the lives of the five people who died in the bridge accident (Wilder 33). Marquesa loved her daughter most even though the daughter does not show any love. The daughter got a married to Abbess who had a kind heart. Marquesa starves for the love of her daughter who is estranged (Wilder 46). Marquesa is committed to her daughter who does not give back the love. Abbess gives refuge to the unwanted regardless of their sexes (Wilder 48). He gives refuge to the twins. Uncle Pio is committed to raise Camila Villegas who loves more the accoutrement and stage than she loves Uncle Pio who raises her. Viceroy impregnates Camila Villegas who is then thrown out of the city because she had a small pox (Wilder 56). This does not portray love at all. Dona Maria was with luxuries and yet she suffered from lack of love. Dona Maria marries a lord who is ruined and is not sensitive to her feelings and shows her no love (Wilder 58). In conclusion, sex, love and commitment are different things as shown in the passage. Those who are committed to others are not even loved in return (Wilder 59). The characters in the book have defied the gender roles of their era (Wilder 62). The parents should play the role of upbringing of their children. However, Uncle Pio defies this role when he gets interested in Camila after bringing her up. He should the role of parent by guiding Camila rather than falling in love with her (Wilder 64). The parents therefore do not play their gender roles. Uncle Pio coaches Camila to become a stage actress. Camila becomes beautiful making Uncle Pio to fall in love with her (Wilder 65). Camila is admired by many men and despite her class she only gets interested to a wealthy viceroy (Wilder 65). The book has a connection of language, literature, philosophy, arts and the religion. The book contains various religions such as the Christianity and Hinduism (Wilder 68). The story shows how the various religions hold different philosophy about their religions. The Christians believed that their religions are the best and want to convert the non-Christians. The religions show that the people of this place speak different languages (Wilder 55). This story shows the history of the people who died in the accident. However, the story shows that these people did not die because of the failure of those who built the railway nor their mistakes. The story portrays the philosophy of love (Wilder 71). This assignment has educational benefits as compared to attending a concert. A concert can be used to refer to watching of movie or play show. The assignment equips the student with good reading skills. The student is able to read keenly every bit of the story interpreting it within their paste thus being able to understand the story fully. In a concert, it may be difficult for a student to interpret the story due to the fact that it occurs very fast within the time limit. In conclusion, the assignment is therefore has educational benefits compared to a concert attendance. Works Cited Wilder, Thornton. The Bridge of San Luis Rey. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2003. Print. Read More