The Importance Of The Urban Setting In Ann Petry's The Street

The relationship between the setting and character are very important to the development of any form of writing,it makes everything seem more realistic.A great example would be a selection of Ann Petry’s in the novel ,The Street. Through the use of vivid imagery, personification, and the great selection of detail Petry is able to convey the reader to the establishment of Lutie Johnson's relationship with the urban setting. In this selection Petrys use of imagery is able to give the reader a vivid image of the first encounter between Johnson and the urban setting and the type of relationship they form as she walks through 116th street.As the selection begins the winds action are very vivid. “It rattled the tops of garbage cans, sucked window shades out through the top of opened windows and set them flapping back against the windows; and it drove most of the people off the street in the block…” Petry has set the urban setting and johnson's first encounter it has become very intense,the urban setting being the cold wind has caused major destruction and has become a blocking factor to johnson's destination of finding a home within this street.The winds interference with the objects found in this street began a form of negative

“ She shivered as the cld fingers of tghe wind touched the back of her neck , explored the sides of her head.It even blew her eylashes away from her eyes..” Throughout the entire selection it is seen that Petry gives the wind many human characteristics such as fingers and exploring.This is a representation of the wind and Johnson forming a relationship such as the one two human beings would make as they are meeting each other for the first time beginning a bond or great friendship. Although johnson's and the winds relationship isn't really a positive one since the wind is interfering with her