Setting

The short story “Saving Mr Ugwu” by Lin Anderson was published in 2012 and takes place in contemporary times as indicated by the reference to the Peugeot car that the main character owns (l. 96). The events take place in a bush area in Nigeria and spread over a day, although there are references to both past and future events.

Geographical setting

The geographical or physical setting has an important role in the short story because it includes many symbolical elements. The setting of the present events is depicted in contrast with setting where the characters used to live in Lagos. Initially, the focus is on Mrs Ugwu’s garden in the bush area versus her garden in Lagos:

Round the single-storey mud bungalow, his wife’s garden has been plucked, fighting and kicking, from the African bush. Plants and shrubs, forced into blood-red soil and given their twice-daily watering, have responded in a riot of colour against the thorny grey backdrop ... a veritable oasis in the wilderness. (ll. 7-10)

(At this point they were sitting on the veranda of their spacious Lagos bungalow. Mrs Ugwu was gazing out across her well-tended garden. Pink and white oleander, red hibiscus, green grass still glistening with spray from the hose.) (ll. 23-26)

The way Mrs Ugwu cultivates the garden in the bush suggests that she is trying to control a savage, natural environment. Her actions are symbolic for the way the Western company that Mr Ugwu works for tries to control and influence the work behaviour (productivity) of the local people in the bush. This is why, when the local people destroy the Ugwu’s garden at the end, their gesture becomes symbolic of their refusal to be con...