The United States of America

The novel occurs in present-day America. This temporal and geographic setting is integral to the narrative of Ducks, Newburyport because it fuels the perpetual internal monologue maintained by the protagonist. Despite her best efforts to the contrary, the protagonist cannot stop contemplating the manifold ways in which contemporary American society has disintegrated. The violence, climate change, and political corruption that now characterize her nation manifest themselves in both her thoughts and experiences throughout the text. She feels unsafe living in modern America and wonders how anyone can support such a shameful country.

The House

The house in which the protagonist and her family live is where most of the action occurs in Ducks, Newburyport. When Ronny attacks the protagonist and her children in their home, he transforms this once comforting setting into a constant reminder of their shared trauma. The house is initially a...