Havisham Setting

Where It All Goes Down

The setting of "Havisham" isn't specified in the poem itself, but since Miss Havisham rarely (if ever) leaves her house, we're going to go ahead and assume that it takes place there. In the novel, Miss H lives in a crumbling, dilapidated mansion called Satis House, which was beautiful before it fell into its disrepair because of Miss Havisham's neglect. As you read the poem, imagine you're in this decrepit mansion – surrounded by stopped clocks, a rotting wedding cake, and a host of mice. That should set the mood perfectly.