Bel Canto Literary Analysis

In the novel Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, the setting is critical both to develop the plot, as well as to convey the author’s message. Bel Canto tells the story of a large multi-national group of mostly wealthy and powerful people, taken hostage by a small band of poor South American political activists. The captors strike at a party, looking to kidnap the unnamed country’s President, in the midst of an opera performance being held in the Vice President’s luxurious home. Throughout their four-month confinement, the hostages’ and terrorists’ relationships are transformed. As might be expected, they begin as adversaries. However, over time, they not only learn to coexist, they develop sometimes deep and intimate relationships with each other. The novel Bel Canto is in part, a story about a power swap between the “haves” and the “have nots” in a turbulent political and socioeconomic climate. Thus, the setting plays a major role in exploring human relationships between people when power is transferred and the human requirements of daily living, are shared. The

The mansion, the direct setting of Bel Canto, allows Patchett to explore the effect of forcing people of different backgrounds to coexist for a long duration of time. Before the party guests are taken hostage by the terrorists, the attendants were caught up in the daily struggles for fame, power and money. As time drew on, their captivity caused their ambition to decrease and their appreciation for culture and music to decrease. Due to the shared love of the opera singer, Roxanne Cross, a bond grew between the hostages and the terrorists. If the author were to not set the terrorist attack in a closed environment, the connection between the two different groups would not have grown as strong as it