In the short story “The Lamp at Noon”, the author, Sinclair Ross situates the story at a farm that has no crops growing due to years of droughts and sand storms. The storms are so intense that a lamp must be lit even at noon. The characters Ellen and Paul, in the story, both struggle to survive this storm and drought year after years during this great depression and are torn apart by harsh elements of nature and their own inability to cope with the changing conditions. The author uses the setting to develop how the characters act, in a way which creates a sense of loneliness for the reader. He shows this through Ellen's feelings of loneliness, isolation and insanity and the reasons for her becoming insane during the story.

Throughout this story, Ellen struggles to break free from the poor, barren and hopeless prairie landscape she and her family inhabit. Ellen has little contact with other people. Living in a two bedroom home and once a month to town with not a penny to spend was not the type of environment Ellen wanted to live in (Ross, 36). Feelings of loneliness and isolation surround Ellen, trapping her in an inevitable, hopeless future. To the young farmer’s wife, Ellen, the notion of being ‘caged’ in a dusty world of isolation was not only stressful, but also very aggravating. Constant and pointless cleaning, trying to give the best for their helpless baby, and the emptiness in their stomachs; the tension was interminable between Paul and Ellen. Agreeing on a proper living situation was not possible, which caused more and more bickering and quarelling, and eventually drove Ellen out of her right mind.
The setting was essential because the whole story revolved around the fact that they were living on a barren farm with an extreme drought. The dry land and lack of food and pleasure caused great suffering, physically and emotionally. Having the two deprived of what they missed most also contributed to the theme, mood and setting. If the couple had actually enjoyed living their life of isolation, the story just wouldn’t be the same. The setting has caused most of the conflict, which is deciding whether to leave the unprofitable farm or not. The hot, dry weather is symbolic for the quarrels between the farmer and his wife. The isolated setting also gives us a sense of hopelessness. Because the strong wind and sand storm has made the environment very dark, only a...

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Undoubtedly, Ellen’s geographical and physical isolation were not the only components of Ellen’s insanity. Ellen felt emotionally isolated from her husband, Paul. Paul was too preoccupied with his farm to even acknowledge Ellen’s feelings of isolation. Ellen addresses Paul many times, trying to convince him to leave the deserted prairie. Paul does not listen to Ellen. He feels that all he needs to provide Ellen with is clothes and nourishment (36). It is clearly shown at the end of this story when Ellen is driven into a state of insanity that Paul also needed to show her love and affection ...

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