Setting
Lady Audley’s Secret
by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Lady Audley’s Secret: Setting 1 key example

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:

Lady Audley’s Secret is set in several locations across England in the 19th century. Many of the book’s most important events unfold at Audley Court, an enormous house and the protagonist’s home during her second marriage. This stately mansion, surrounded by picturesque and romantic landscapes, seems to epitomize the Victorian era's romanticized pastoral ideal. It’s a beautiful house, in a beautiful place, with a beautiful mistress. On the surface, it’s absolutely emblematic of serenity and old-world charm. However, as the novel progresses, it becomes apparent that this tranquil setting is a veneer. The setting of the novel mirrors the duality of Braddon’s characters. Its attractive outside conceals the unsettling mysteries and scandals that lurk within its walls.