Big Cities: New York, Detroit, Chicago

Stories "Fresh Complaint," "Baster," "Early Music," and "Great Experiment" take place in big cities. Their characters are professionals and intellectuals, and thus the setting is meant to connote a cosmopolitan or worldly lifestyle. Although the city names are mentioned, most of the action takes place in domestic spaces or conveys the emotional life of the characters. Eugenides does not provide much descriptions of the city, except to mention it as a destination or place of dwelling.

Ireland

"Capricious Gardens" takes place in Ireland, although most of the action occurs inside of Sean's wealthy home. Eugenides does not provide much description of the area where the story unfolds, except that the American tourists may have been walking on a less populated street on the wayside. Catholic iconography is alluded to in the story, and Ireland captures the essence of a place where religious cultural...