In novels the setting of the story plays an integral part in developing a meaning and understanding of the themes of the novel. The setting is never just a place where events occur it is a culture where people with similar beliefs and attitudes interact, their responses to events and their rituals are usually considered common of that area and so can be explored and developed to enlighten the reader. In Isabel Allende's novel Eva Luna, Eva's journey through the provinces of Chile lands her in many different towns and societies. Furthermore there is an exploration of how society changes in time with a strong focus on political unrest and revolutions in a country plagued with social difficulties. She never experiences two similar societies contributing to a diverse exploration of culture and identity in an intriguing environment.

At the start of Eva's journey through life, when she is...