Setting

Physical setting

The short story “Old Growth” by Lisa Alward was published in 2017. The story is meant to be read as contemporary to the time when it was written. This is indicated, for example, by the reference to searching for information on Google (l. 56).

Note, however, that the events described in the story take place across a few different time settings. Gwyneth recalls Ray calling her before their trip to the island (ll. 33-39), how she discussed the trip with Ben (ll. 44-46), and the morning when she and Ray left for the island (ll. 47-51). She also recalls events from longer ago, such as the time when she and Ray first met (l. 134) and when she was introduced to his parents. (ll. 19-21)

The main events in the story take place over the course of a day, on an island where Ray wants to buy land: “(…) he surprised her by suggesting she drive to the island with him (…) They could get there and back in a day” (ll. 35-36). The physical setting is very important for the meaning of the story, and various of its elements are symbolic. For example, the fact that the land is located on an island (detached from the main land), suggests Ray’s wish to live independently and, symbolically, separated emotionally from Gwyneth.

The action begins on Ray’s realtor’s property: “three acres with a vegetable garden, an orchard, and a pen for her horses (…)” (ll. 27-28). This suggests the type of rural life that Ray wants to have on the island.

An important element of the physical setting is the old growth forest on the land that Ray intends to buy. ...