Wilder sets The Bridge of San Luis Rey in the 18th century and cultivates a deliberately antiquated style in his narration. However, two of his protagonists—Manuel and Esteban, orphaned brothers who make their living as day laborers in Lima—speak in a comparatively modern dialect that contrasts with the speech of other characters and the novel's overall prose style. For example, when Manuel is ill and giving Esteban instructions for his care, he says,
“I’ve got to get well, Esteban. I’ve got to get up soon, you know. Put them on. But one minute—give me the crucifix."
In this passage, Manuel speaks in clipped sentences, uses a simple vocabulary, and addresses his brother directly and informally. This kind of speech stands out against other dialogue in the novel, which is characterized by longer sentences, antiquated vocabulary, and the use of honorifics such as "your Grace." While much of the dialogue in The Bridge of San Luis Rey would have felt outdated to Wilder's 20th-century readers, conversations between Esteban and Manuel might have recalled contemporary literature and cinema.
In its directness and informality, the brothers' dialect signifies their low class status, and reflects Wilder's commitment to showing how characters in all walks of life engage with thorny philosophical questions. As a stylistic choice, this dialect also contributes to the novel's timeless air. By assigning different speech patterns to different characters, Wilder avoids creating a contemporary story or a fully realistic depiction of the past. Straddling these two forms, Wilder communicates to the reader that the novel's themes are universal ones equally relevant in any era.
