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The Role of Setting in Literature

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In literature there are many components that help to develop the literary work. In The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allen Poe and The Lady with the Dog by Anton Chekhov, arguably the single most important literary device that enhances the story is setting. In both stories setting is used differently but yet effectively. Setting is the literary element that includes the historical moment in time and geographic location in which a story takes place. Setting helps establish mood, situation, and even characters. In The Lady with the Dog setting is seen to help develop the story by the changing of seasons representing relationships. In The Cask of Amontillado setting is vital to the story because it helps reveal a dreadful mood. Chekhov's The Lady with the Dog solely relied on setting for numerous reasons. The Lady with the Dog featured two main characters, Dmitri and Anna. Dmitri is an older married man around the age of 40 that has had several different mistresses. Anna also is married and is somewhat fed up with her husband. One summer day when he sees Anna at the park he can't help but to engage her. It started out just like any other one of Dmitri's flings but eventually he falls in love and is shocked that this is what love really feels like and is even more shocked because of what he thought love was. After Dmitri initially approaches Anna, during the summer they start to spend more and more time together by going on dates. Dmitri even spends some of his time with Anna in her hotel room. They are starting to grow feelings for each other and are becoming attached. But as the season start to change to fall, Anna hears word that her husband is sick and she has to go back home to tend to his illness. Setting is reflected on their relationship here because in the beginning of their relationship, during summer the warmer month, all was fair and Dmitri and Anna's relationship was going great with no problems. But as the seasons start to change, Anna has to leave but Dmitri does not want her to go signalling the growth in their relationship from just a fling to a stronger relationship. After Anna leaves and as winter is approaching, Dmitri thinks he will get over her just like any other one of his mistress. Unlike the summer when everything was going good in their relationship, along with the cold of winter it also brings struggle. Dmitri

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