Setting

Time setting

The short story "The Park" by James Matthews takes place over the course of a few hours on a single day, likely from afternoon to late evening or night. Though we do not know what time of day the story begins, we do know that the ending takes place at night: “Why not go to the park after dark?” (l. 254)

It is strongly suggested that the story takes place in South Africa during the apartheid period. The sign at the entrance of the park is a strong indicator of this: “He struggled with the red letters on the white background. ‘Blankes Alleen, Whites Only.’” (ll. 44-46)

Physical setting

The physical setting of the story is varied, from the park the main character watches and dreams about, to his family’s home, and a few other locations the main character visits. The focus, however, is on the contrast between the park and other places that the white people frequent, and the shops and neighborhood where the people of color live.

The park is described in detail: “The park itself, with its wide lawns and flower-beds and rockeries and dwarf trees, meant nothing to him. It was the gaily painted tubing, the silver chains and brown boards, transport to never-never land, which gripped him” (ll. 55-57). Despite the beauty of the park, the main character is much more focused on the playground equipment inside it (ll. 1-4). There is nothing similar to this in the main character’s own neighborhood....