What is the importance of setting in David Swan by Nathaniel Hawthorne and how does it relate to the story's theme?

Answer 1

In the story David Swan, David choses a place "sheltered by trees and with a gurgling stream" to rest. This setting is important because it symbolises that David is completely at ease and very comfortable, even though he's being faced by wealth, love and death, because he's completely anaware of what is happening around him. The author is trying to show that David didn't expect anything extraordinary to happen. The sheltered setting is somewhat a contrast to the dramatic things that almost befall David. One could say that it provides s sense of irony. Apart from all this, of course, the setting is important because the old couple chose the shade to wait while their carriage is being repaired, the young lady choses the shelter of the trees to adjust her dress and the theives go there for a game of cards and to drink from the stream.

Answer 2

The setting in "David Swan" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a remote forest, amplifies the theme of chance encounters and fleeting moments of connection between strangers. The isolated setting emphasizes the transitory nature of human relationships and the element of unpredictability in life. Ultimately, the setting underscores the idea that meaningful encounters can occur in unexpected places, highlighting the theme of serendipity in the story.