Where It All Goes Down
A Friday and Saturday on a Southern Farm in 1955
Harvey Hill, one of the men Glynese dates, drives a 1955 Mercury and, since O'Connor wrote the story over four days in February of 1955, we're assuming the story is set in this same year. We don't know where exactly in the South the story takes place, but somewhere in O'Connor's home state of Georgia would be a fair guess.
Most of the first half of the story takes place in Mrs. Hopewell's kitchen. This is where the three women converge three times a day over meals. It's interesting that Mrs. Freeman, who has her own family, and doesn't eat with Hulga and Mrs. Hopewell, "always manage[s] to arrive at some point in the meal and watch them finish it" (11). Both Joy and Mrs. Hopewell seem to accept this grudgingly. This kitchen scenario contributes to the sense that the three women are trapped together in a familiar, but fairly uncomfortable, routine.
The fact that any description of Mrs. Freeman's kitchen, or other living quarters, is omitted is also significant. This makes it clear that the story is mostly from the point of view of Mrs. Hopewell and Hulga. This is particularly interesting in light of the fact that we also never get inside Mrs. Freeman's head—but for more on that, hop on over to the "Characters" section.
Perhaps the highlight of the setting is the barn loft. The story's most climactic action occurs in this small, enclosed, remote space. This highlights Hulga's vulnerability and seeming lack of options, and reflects her inner feelings of being trapped on the farm. Ironically, the date with Manley could have been a break from the routine, or even an escape from the confines of her life. However, because of a combination of both daters' bad intentions, it instead becomes just another trap.