The idea that technology and progress is seen to be the detriment of humanity has been constructed through the convention of setting. The construction of the futuristic dystopian city in A.D. 2053 reveals a world where machines have complete control over humanity. Throughout the story, various descriptive language, metaphor and imagery has been used to express a sense of eeriness and hostile environment where humanity has virtually ceased to exist. For example, the streets are described as “dry river beds”, people sit “dead” in their “tomblike” homes and walking through the neighbourhood is much the same to walking through a “graveyard”. The sterile environment of the city conveys a sense of loneliness that is devoid of any individual or human touch where a “murmur of laughter” was seen as odd. “Magazines and books didn't sell anymore. Everything went on in the tomblike houses at night now…” expresses the idea of how technology has driven humanity to obsession, cooped in their ‘tombs, ill-lit by television light” controlled by their “viewing screen”.

Setting has also been used to challenge ideas about technology’s ability to reduce our capability to be human and in control of our individuality. “He whispered to every house on every side as he moved…” and “The street was silent and long and empty,” reveals the lack of humanity in a world where communication and human interaction is to no prevail. The police’s utter surprise and suspicious tone when he says, “Walking, just walking, walking? Walking where? For what?” insinuates that Mr. Leonard is seen as a threat because he is fundamentally different from everyone else. In addition, “As he had expected, there was no one, no one in the car at all…” is another example of the mechanic and robotic setting of the city where machines have dominated human intelligence and humans are exempt from performing the simple act of driving. In short, the setting has been used to effectively foreshadow the frightening future where humanity itself would serve as a sacrifice to machines.