Question

in what ways does setting influence characterization

Answer 1

The setting is definitely important when looking at character development and conflict. A character living in a run-down area is going to have a different personality and a different way at looking at things than someone who comes from a rich background.

Take this for example (and forgive me if this is overused) the movie "Titanic". A Rose from the slums would be completely different than the Rose we see in the movie. It is because of her arranged marriage and her wealth that she is miserable. If Rose were on the same level of wealth as Jack, the story would be completely different.

Time is another factor of setting, though as you see in plays, it's more easily manipulated than other aspects. For example, my school did a production of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline" last year. However, instead of setting it in the period it was written in, the director changed it to the time of the Civil War. A few of the aspects (like the costumes and the accents) were changed, but the essence was still the same.