The City

The unnamed city in which the narrator lives serves as the principal backdrop for the novel, with only a few chapters dedicated to the narrator traveling elsewhere. The city is presumed to be a somewhat popular destination somewhere in Italy, due to Lahiri's use of Italian designations such as piazza and trattoria. The city grows busier during the summer months until August, when much of the local commerce closes and the residents go on their own vacations.

Thematically, the city represents much of what the narrator struggles against in the novel. Namely, the city harbors many memories of growing up with her parents and the difficulties therein. In addition, the city with its many inhabitants represents a counterpoint to the narrator's desire for solitude. Throughout the year the city shifts from a bustling tourist destination to an almost empty shadow of itself, reflecting the struggle within the...