Pakistan

The South Asian country of Pakistan is the primary setting for most of the stories in the collection. The country, with its history of feudalism (see "Symbols / Symbolism"), of class conflict, and pervasive corruption is an effective, appropriate backdrop for the collection's stories of characters struggling to improve their lives.

Lahore

Lahore is the second-largest city in Pakistan, and the setting of several stories or sequences within stories. It is a hub of political, cultural, and economic activity in the region. All aspects of Pakistani culture play significant roles in the collection's various narratives.

Rural Pakistan

The urban sophistication of Lahore and the people who live there is vividly contrasted with the somewhat less sophisticated sensibilities of more rural parts of Pakistan, where several stories in the collection, or scenes in stories, take place. The farming industry and the influence of landowners form an important backdrop to several...