Short stories can be both fiction and non-fiction. Either way, the purpose of short stories is to convey a message, moral, or lesson. Setting often sets the mood and tone of the story. Characters in the story are usually affected tremendously by the setting. The setting is the time, place, day, or location in which the story takes place. The setting reveals clues to the readers as a sense of direction of what will happen next. The plot can be affected by the setting as because it affects what will happen throughout the story. The two short stories, “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck and “Hills like White Elephant” by Ernest Hemingway displays how setting can give hints to what can possibly happen, describe the characters trait, and effect the plot.
“The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world. On every side, it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of the great valley a closed pot” (Steinbeck 581). This quote is stating that the Allen’s foothill ranch was closed off to the outside world, they are living in a rural setting. The Allen’s lived in a neat white farm house with red geraniums …show more content…
“But there was no sunshine in the valley now in December” (Steinbeck 581). The symbolism of no sunshine describes her characteristic of how unhappy she is. Elisa does not feel appreciated by the only person she is surrounded by which is her husband, Henry. She is “cold and tender” meaning even though she is emotionless, fragile and sensitive she is still a woman. Being that Elisa is secluded from the rest of the world and not given any attention makes her become attracted to the “Tinker”. She is vulnerable and becomes weak when she receives attention from him, for once she felt appreciated. If Elisa wasn’t isolated from society perhaps she wouldn’t feel so helpless when she is exposed to social interactions with the opposite