Setting

“Sweet Cream” by Julia Kelk was published in 2003, but the narrative does not indicate the exact time setting. We only know the events take place during a winter evening (p. 98, l. 2). As a result, we can assume that the author intended the story to be set in a contemporary time setting.

Physical setting

A few elements of the physical setting are mentioned: the reception hall, and the restroom. The corridor to the restroom and the toilets are described using imagery:

She pushed through the big swinging doors and entered the corridor which was soft and quite with muffling cream carpets. There were paintings on the walls, a series of red gashes of paint. The ladies’ room was at the end of the hall. There were two stalls… (p. 99, ll. 16-21)

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Social setting

The social setting illustrates aspects related to cultural differences, wedding traditions, and social misfits. Jenny is a Mexican girl who studied in Canada. The time she spent in Canada has changed her and her perspective on Mexico and Mexican people. The incident in the bathroom, the wedding cake, and the reception setting suggest that Jenny now views Mexican culture as kitschy and fake, and thinks the people are often impolite, although Fernando and her sister and brother-in-law are kind to her.

The same lack of politeness is observed by Fernando, who knows that people do not like that Jenny acts in American ways:

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