O'Connor was born and raised in Georgia, a place very influenced by the Bible and it is no coincidence that her short story is set also in Georgia. This symbolizes that even in the most Christian areas, people are still filled with sin and shame. The most important place in the story is the red ditch in which the family finds itself after the accident. The cloudless blue sky persists as dusk approaches. This area symbolizes a place of salvation and is where the grandmother finds herself after finally finding grace and passing away. Another important location are the ominous woods which serve as the backdrop to the story and depict the family's horrible fate. The mouth of the woods is dark and dangerous, similar to the grandmother's constantly open mouth. The grandmother changes things herself by using her mouth again, but her family is brought to the mouth of the woods where they never