Setting

Originally published in 1973, the short story “Joe” by Peter Carey is probably set sometime in the 1960s as the references to the Perry Como Show (p. 133, l. 5) indicate. Also, the references to the bush fires (p. 134, ll. 29-30) and the dark skin of the characters (p. 135, l. 21) suggest that the events take place in Australia and concern people of Aboriginal descent.

Physical setting

The events take place in the kitchen and the living room: “The kitchen is small and we all crowd in, eager to do our share.” (pp. 132-133, ll. 4-1);

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Social setting

The social setting illustrates aspects related to family life and rape. The narrator describes his family and their activities with numerous details. His family is numerous (four children and the parents), and they do a lot of shared activities: washing dishes, watching TV, singing songs for Joe’s birthday, etc.

The narrator’s family also illustrates how families share certain physical and character traits but also their differences. In this social setting, Joe fills the role of the black sheep: he is the family member who has no special trait and who does not look like the others.

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