The University

The novel’s main narrative takes place at an unnamed university in the American Midwest. Wallace is a graduate student in the university’s biochemistry department. Wallace’s fellow students are from various different parts of the country, and some are from other countries. Wallace is the first Black student in the biochemistry program in the last 30 years. Wallace feels a deep amount of emotional pain while attending the university, as he is subject to structural/social racism in the school, as well as in the surrounding town.

Alabama

Wallace is originally from a small town in Alabama. Wallace’s childhood and youth were defined by many instances of deep trauma. For example, in Wallace’s household and neighborhood, homosexuality was generally said to be unnatural and immoral. Also, Wallace’s parents were alcoholics who were sometimes physically abusive. Wallace was raped by an adult man on...