Compare the extent to which the authors of three texts on your comparative course use setting or aspects of setting to help define and develop characters.

Develop your answer with reference to at least one character in each of your chosen texts or different factors in each of your chosen texts. (2020)

Feedback: H3, edging towards H2. This essay contains some thought out points and makes fantastic use of quotation (only a few lines, but it’s bulls eye every time). There are a few places where the author of the essay failed to capitalise on her points because they are left just a little underbaked (highlighted in text). A little bit more structure would have solved this, plus an extra 200 words or so. LG is not the easiest mode, so well done.

The exploration of setting is an important part of understanding how characters are shaped and developed within a narrative. In the texts “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro, “Philadelphia, Here I Come” by Brian Friel, and “Lady Bird” directed by Greta Gerwig, setting plays a crucial role in defining and developing characters. This essay will compare the extent to which the authors of these texts use setting to define and develop Kathy, Gar and Lady Bird, examining how different literary genres—novel, play, and film—contribute to this aspect of storytelling, namely through a discussion of imagery, narrative structure, character dynamics and the role of the narrator. (This last sentence is good, but too long and it’s easy to make a mistake in such a convoluted sentence when you’re under exam pressure.)

In “Never Let Me Go,” Kazuo Ishiguro employs the novel genre to intricately weave setting into the fabric of character development. The secluded and atmospheric setting of Hailsham, a secluded boarding school in rural England, serves as a backdrop for the lives of Kathy, Tommy, and Ruth. The first person narration and flashbacks assist the reader with understading who Kathy is very directly. The eerie and almost surreal atmosphere of Hailsham contributes to the sense of isolation and existential uncertainty experienced by the characters. The novel’s use of imagery, such as the dilapidated cottages and overgrown fields surrounding Hailsham, reinforces the characters’ sense of confinement and entrapment (too close to being synonymous) within their predetermined fate. As the story unfolds, the reader gains insight into Kathy’s introspective and observant nature, shaped by her experiences within the confines of Hailsham. The setting of Hailsham serves as a microcosm of the characters’ larger world, reflecting the themes of conformity, identity, and mortality that permeate the narrative, “I remember a boy once told me there were at least two kinds of tears—tears for those who leave and tears for those who stay behind”. Kathy’s interactions with her peers and the oppressive atmosphere of Hailsham contribute to her gradual realisation of her predetermined fate (repetitive, try inevitable outcome) as a clone raised for organ donation. The setting not only shapes Kathy’s understanding of her own identity but also influences her relationships with others, particularly her complex feelings towards Tommy and Ruth. (Missing a great opportunity to explain what this may be, eg isolation leads to introspection and also solidifies her bond with Tommy and Ruth. Ruth’s betrayal of Kathy through her pursuit of a romantic relationship with Tommy, Kathy’s love interest, can also be argued to stem from this pressurised, isolated setting where they especially acutely don’t know what tomorrow might bring. This in turn shapes who Kathy is, what relationships she may get to experience in life and what she believes about friendship and love).

In “Philadelphia, Here I Come,” Brian Friel uses the play genre to explore the impact of setting on character development through dialogue and stage direction. The play is set in the fictional Irish town of Ballybeg, where the protagonist, Gar O’Donnell, grapples with the decision to leave for America which comes across as intimate and familiar, but also serves as a reflection of Gar’s internal conflicts and emotional struggles. (Super). The play’s use of vivid descriptions and imagery, such as the pub where Gar works and the surrounding countryside, helps to establish the sense of place and community that shapes Gar’s identity, in a manner similar to how imagery in used in NLMG. As the central protagonist, Gar’s internal monologues and interactions with other characters provide insight into his conflicted feelings about leaving Ballybeg, “I’m sick of hearing my own voice… I’m sick of the sight of the fields and the bog and the streams and the mountains.”. The repetition in this passage is quite theatrical and becoming of this dramatic genre. This is also present in, “To go or not to go. That’s the question. There’s no answer. There’s no hope…”, along with an obvious reference to Shakespeare that adds a sense of bitter irony to the poignant play and further insight into Gar’s tormented mind. The brutal honesty of those monologues is similar to confidential narration by Kathy in NLMG and Ladybird’s innermost thoughts in the eponymous film through the occasional voiceover narration. (This is where you’re really going to please the examiner! Compare-compare-compare!) The setting of Ballybeg represents Gar’s ties to his Irish heritage. However, it also symbolises the limitations and constraints that prevent Gar from realising his full potential. Throughout the play, the conflict (juxtaposition?) of Gar’s inner thoughts and outward actions reveals the tension between his desire for independence and his fear of leaving behind the familiar comforts of home.

In “Lady Bird,” Greta Gerwig employs the film genre to explore the role of setting in character development through visual storytelling and cinematic techniques. The vibrant and dynamic setting of Sacramento serves as a backdrop for Lady Bird’s coming of age journey. The film’s use sweeping shots of the cityscape and intimate close-ups of the characters, helps to establish the mood and atmosphere of the narrative, from the bustling city streets to the quiet suburbs, as reflects the diversity of experiences and perspectives that shape Lady Bird’s worldview, “I want to go where culture is, like New York, or at least Connecticut or New Hampshire, where writers live in the woods”. This betrays her naivety and idealised notions of what other places may be like. Similarly to PHIC, the contrast of Lady Bird’s desires and the realities of her environment highlights the tension between her dreams of escape and her roots in Sacramento. The relatively linear structure of the narration highlights Lady Bird’s main transformation from a teenager into a young adult, while the flashbacks provide further insights into her motivations such as feeling misunderstood by her mother leading to her desire for independence. In this sense, the narrative structure is broadly similar to NLMG. Moreover, the first person narration brings the film and novel closer again.

The authors of “Never Let Me Go,” “Philadelphia, Here I Come,” and “Lady Bird” use setting to varying degrees to define and develop characters within their respective stories. In the novel, play, and film genres, setting plays a crucial role in shaping character identity, relationships and motivations. Through the use of imagery, dialogue (I would leave out dialogue from the conclusion because this only highlights that you didn’t talk about it), and visual storytelling, these texts offer nuanced insights into the ways in which characters are influenced by their environments and the cultural contexts in which they exist. By examining the role of setting in character development, readers and viewers gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of identity, belonging, and personal growth within diverse literary genres.