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Motifs
Definition of Setting
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:
“Girl” is set in the Caribbean. Although a location is never given by name, the story is rife with references to the culture and geography of the islands. Salt fish, doukona, and pepper pot are all popular dishes; pumpkin, dasheen, and okra are common crops. The story also gives the sense of an island community more generally. In a place with a small population sequestered by the sea on all sides, everyone knows everyone, and a person's reputation precedes them. This is evident in Mother’s warnings and instructions, which coalesce neatly at the end of the story—don’t be the kind of woman the baker won’t let near the bread.
Related Themes:
