The Power Of Place
Place Over All
Never before have we been able to travel so far without moving an inch; with the touch of a button, we can bring lands far and wide into our single viewpoint through nothing more than a miniature screen. Profound though this may be, the power of place – the physical surroundings and geographical location – still means everything, particularly in the stories around us. Whether in books, films, or other media, the setting gives the audience a sense of all.
Setting The Scene
First and foremost, place is the background of a story; the setting inclusive of everything, everyone and every event. While it may not seem to play an active role in the plot or characters, even an initial suggestion of the setting creates the world where the story unfolds; it sets the stage in our minds for the events that follow. The surroundings, however dramatic or nondescript, pervade the lives of the characters and enliven the story for the readers. It’s the ubiquitous character which never speaks or moves, but interacts universally with all, and little other literary features possess that power.
Nurturing Nature
Place may also have the ability to make inferences about morality. Author Barry Lopez argues that nature and place in literature have a significant impact on culture, and the inclusion of place means careful observations about it have been made by the author. Readers, therefore, become intimate with the places in a text and aware of anything that might threaten or undermine it: the story’s home becomes theirs. For Lopez, place in literature raises ethical conversations about how the environment is treated and this is one of its fundamental operations.
Mapping Imaginations
Speaking of environments, for every author, mapmaking is an essential process, whether it be mentally plotting the places in their story and their localities, or physically creating the geographies where the story takes place. Authors must build the world in which their story exists, and map in their minds the spots where the plot occurs. Whether based in reality or purely fictitious, the audience is planted in place to witness the story. In How Writers Map Their Imaginary Worlds by Sarah Laskow (2018), she highlights how a strong sense of place guides the audience throughout the story, and reminds readers of all the places the story has taken them. This is particularly true of texts where the authors have imagined and included maps, and there’s certainly a magical element to this.
Whether based on real places or fantasy worlds, ‘all maps are products of human imagination’ writes Huw Lewis-Jones. With a strong sense of place, stories provide a portal to different and unthinkable places which leave ever-lasting, meaningful imprints on our imaginations, none of which we can achieve through a screen.
References
Laskow, S. (2018) How Writers Map Their Imaginary Worlds. Source: How Writers Map Their Imaginary Worlds – Atlas Obscura.
Relph, E. (2021) Places in Literature: Interpretations. Source: Place in Literature: Interpretations.
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Jessica Lucas is a qualified English Language teaching professional and specialises in educational content creation.
