Setting

“The Night of the Full Moon” by K. S. Duggal is set in a village in India, probably sometime in the 1970s (the story was published in 1975).

The main events unfold from the evening until the next morning, but there are also a few backstories which present some parts of the characters’ past.

Physical setting

The main physical setting is the main character’s house and courtyard, on a full moon night: “And tonight the moon would be full. The night would be cold frosty and still.” (p. 27, ll. 11-12), “It was late. The moon was so dazzling bright that it seemed to be focusing all its light in that one courtyard. Was it cold? Not really. Just pleasantly cool.” (pp. 28-30, l. 35, ll. 1-2)

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Social setting

The social setting presents village society in India. Aspects related to marriage and wedding rituals are presented through Malan and Minnie. Malan is in an unhappy marriage, in which her husband does not pay attention to her and his only concern has been having a son: “He always came home tired: he ate his meal and fell fats asleep. Only the desire to have a son would occasionally arouse him at midnight.” (p. 28, ll. 18-20)

Aspects related to traditional wedding rituals are presented as Malan imagines the upcoming wedding of her daughter: “In another four days women would come to the courtyard to sing wedding songs. They would put hennah on the palms and the soles of ...

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