Setting

Published in 2009, “Fireweed” by Skye Brannon is a short story mixing two time and physical settings: the present moment in the United States and moments from Baluta’s childhood in Liberia.

Time setting

We can assume that the present time setting was intended to be contemporary to the time of publishing (2009),...

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Physical setting

The main physical setting in the United States is the house of Baluta’s employer, Tiffany, which indicates wealth and opulence: “This time, he would take a right after entering the gate, and drive past the large man-made pond. It was only a lip, a small man-made lip on one side of the water’s body…” (ll. 28-30)

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Social setting

The physical setting helps the author better illustrate key aspects of the social setting, namely those of inequality and violence.

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