Some people care little about the setting of a book or movie because they are so submerged in the characters and their story. Little do they realize that without a setting or location, the characters nor the story wouldn't exist in the first place. A perfect example for this would the book and movie, Brooklyn. The story, as obvious as it is, takes place in Brooklyn of 1950, where the main character Eilis Lace, finds love, opportunities, and self-confidence in her new home after immigrating from Ireland.
One reason why the location, Brooklyn and America, is important in the story is because it teaches Eilis how to love. Back in her home in Ireland, Eilis was taught to love and marry the perfect guy her parents recommended, who was rich, tall, handsome, and Irish. Growing up with such a controlled love life in a somewhat conservative environment, Eilis never learned how to truly love someone, until she moved to Brooklyn. There she met a young man who was the complete opposite of an ideal lover. His name was Tony, and he was short, he was a plumber, and he was an Italian. Yet, she fell for Tony regardless. At this moment, Eilis learns the most important lesson of all, that what matters is not on the outside, but on the inside.
The next reason why the city is important is because it gives the character a chance for new opportunities and ultimately helping Eilis see the world from a bigger view. Eilis worked as a cashier at a local shop before immigrating to the new land. Many customers were rude and cruel. The manager always had a reason to pick on Eilis. And rich customers were favored over poor customers. The work environment was very hostile and it stressed her out every day. Because of this, Eilis expected no more and no less from her new job in America. But after working for a while, she realized that it was completely different than the job back in Ireland. The customers appreciated her service and even her co-workers and her boss respected her. The more she worked, the more she loved her job. It is something that her job in Ireland couldn't offer, but her job in Brooklyn did. A better job wasn't the only opportunity that she came across in Brooklyn, but she also got an opportunity to get an education for her college degree. It was something she would never even dream about back home. But with the help of her friends and boss, Eilis got a chance to prove herself as an Irish woman pursuing an education.
The last reason for the importance of location in Brooklyn is that the city helped Eilis build self-confidence and become a strong independent woman. Before, Eilis was a very shy and timid girl. She was very dependent on her mother and did whatever she told her to do. Also, her old boss back in Ireland always put her down and every time, Eilis would never fight back nor defend herself. But visiting her home after a couple months in America proved that she changed into a different person, a strong, independent, and confident version of Eilis. She was not afraid to say no to her mother and was confident enough to make her own decisions. She was not afraid to fight for herself against her old boss when she threatened to tell everyone about Eilis cheating on her Italian boyfriend. One can see that she has changed for the better and it is her new home to thank.
Moving to a new place is not easy. Even Eilis had a difficult time and was very homesick in her first few weeks in Brooklyn. But when it came down to choose between Ireland and America, she chose the land of liberty and opportunity because it gives much more than what Ireland can, such as love, job, education, and courage. This story shows how a location can play a crucial role in a plot and how it can ultimately affect the outcome of the story.
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