New York City

The whole of the novel occurs in New York City, with the narrator frequently referencing real spots in the city to ground it in reality, from real street and neighborhood names, museums, and other attractions and locations. The narrator frequently strips away the romanticism of the city and replaces it with the ugly, dirtier reality, much as the narrative does with Lavinia and her parties. The novel also shows how views of the city change drastically based on class and geography. For example, Lavinia lives in a beautiful brownstone paid for by her parents, while Louise lives in a small apartment she can barely afford each month, and deals with catcalls and abuse from other residents.

Lavinia's Apartment

Lavinia's apartment is one of the major settings for the novel, and also representative of Lavinia herself. The apartment is a large, well-appointed brownstone in an upscale part...