Setting

The setting is difficult to determine because the story is more of a recollection and not set in one time or place. However, Beattie makes reference to time in ways like, "in recent years" and "she had a very profitable year selling real estate," Beaty, 207-208. Beattie switches back and forth from talking in recent times that Andrea and her husband are in, and also in the past when Andrea had an affair and previous homes she had taken the bowl to. The vague time and place in Beattie's story is efficient and works well because the main focus is on the bowl and what it symbolizes for Andrea, her relationship, and how she views her life. Beattie does provide details of homes that she has been in, but mostly based off of the area that Andrea places the bowl, "jonquils in a pitcher," "from coffee table to mahogany corner table," "chest," etc. Also, at the end of the story, the readers are aware that some "time [has] passed," showing that Andrea is ultimately left feeling alone with her bowl in the living room.