Setting

Physical setting

The story “Rendezvous” by Daniel Ransom takes place on an interstate road in America, part of a network of highways that run across the country. At the beginning of the story, Payton starts driving along the Interstate in his car, and Kim sits at an Interstate rest stop. 

The action takes place in late afternoon to evening. The sky is overcast (p. 51, l. 1). Kim smells “the rain that is about to start” (p. 51, l. 21), and as she takes shelter inside the bathroom, she hears the rain “thrumming the roof” (p. 52, l. 32). At the end “she’s soaked from the rain” (p. 52, l. 21). The proximity of the rain and its effect on Kim is consistent with the feeling of imminent danger, which culminates with her getting into Payton’s car at the end. It is worth noting that Payton’s attitude towards the rain is careless and even positive (p. 52, ll. 2-5). Payton's attitude shows that he does not mind the rain in the same way as Kim, which could point to Kim being the one in danger.

Also, Kim trades the cold and emptiness of th...