The setting of '1984' is integral to the themes. The bleak, grey cities and the omnipresent surveillance by the Party through telescreens mirror the theme of a dehumanized society. People are just cogs in the machine of the totalitarian state. The division between the different classes in Oceania, from the Inner Party to the Proles, reflects the theme of power imbalance. The fact that the world is in a state of perpetual war in the novel's setting shows how the regime uses this as a means to control resources and keep the population in a state of fear and subjugation, all of which are central themes of the book.
The setting in '1984' shows the totalitarian regime through the omnipresent Big Brother. Everywhere there are telescreens watching people. The drab and dilapidated cityscape also reflects the control. People live in a world where there is no privacy and are constantly indoctrinated with Party ideology. For example, Winston's flat, which is shabby and has the telescreen always on, is a typical part of this setting that showcases how the regime has invaded every aspect of people's lives.
The Game of Thrones novel tone reflects the medieval setting in multiple ways. The warfare depicted is very much in line with medieval warfare. There are knights in armor, battles on horseback, and sieges of castles. The social hierarchy is another aspect. The nobility holds most of the power and wealth, while the common people are at the bottom. Also, the importance of family names and lineages is very medieval. A person's family name can bring them great privilege or be a source of their downfall, much like in medieval society.
The setting can shape the mood and atmosphere of a story. For example, a dark and gloomy setting might create a sense of mystery or danger.
It reflects the modernist theme of alienation. The protagonist in 'The Trial' is isolated from the world around him. He doesn't understand the trial process, and no one seems to be able to truly help him. This sense of being alone and lost in a complex system is a common modernist theme.
At the end of 'Of Mice and Men', the themes of powerlessness and the cruelty of society are highlighted. Lennie is powerless against his own strength and his simple - mindedness which leads to the death of Curley's wife. George is powerless to save Lennie in any other way than by shooting him. The society around them, represented by Curley and his mob, is cruel and unforgiving, not allowing for any mercy or understanding for Lennie's situation. This ending encapsulates these themes and shows how the characters are at the mercy of their circumstances.
The end reflects the themes of loneliness and the impossibility of the American Dream. Lennie's death shows his ultimate loneliness as he is killed by his only friend. And the dream of the farm they shared is shattered, indicating that for the poor and marginalized like them, the American Dream is often just an unachievable fantasy.
The setting in a setting novel can greatly affect the characters. For example, if the setting is a war - torn country, the characters may be more hardened and resourceful. They have to adapt to the chaos and danger around them.
Smeagol's sad life reflects the theme of the corrupting power of greed. His once - normal life was completely destroyed by his greed for the Ring. It shows how a seemingly small object can have such a huge and negative impact on a life.
The theme of escapism is one way. In Romantic novels, characters often sought to escape from the real world into a more idyllic or spiritual realm. In 'Ode to a Nightingale', Keats himself seems to long to escape into the world of the nightingale's song, away from the cares and woes of his own existence. Another theme is the power of the imagination. Romantic novels were known for their imaginative plots and settings, and the ode shows Keats' powerful imagination as he imagines himself transported by the nightingale's song.
In Steinbeck's novels, the California setting is integral to the themes. The state's large - scale agriculture implies themes of labor and exploitation. The dusty towns and the long roads symbolize the journey of life and the search for a better place, which is a common theme. Also, the closeness to nature in California brings out themes of man's relationship with the environment.