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Elements of setting—isolation, harsh weather, and the reminders of ticking time—amplify the horror of the story. Nat’s cottage and the Triggs’ farm are removed from mainstream society. At the very beginning of the story, this semi-seclusion makes for a tranquil setting. Nat enjoys his remote life down by the sea. But when the winds change, the characters’ isolation seems more foreboding. Should acute danger arise, help from the outside won’t come quickly. The arrival of the harsh weather also adds to this foreboding tone. The sudden winter weather strips the leaves from the trees, and with them, any sense of life. The ground becomes totally frozen, and nothing can grow. It is as though death is creeping closer and closer to the characters, from all around. There are also few other people around. Nat doesn’t pass anyone on his way to the bus stop. When he checks outside during the second night, he notes there’s no evidence of any living thing, just the harsh seas and brutal cold.

Beyond the characters’ physical surroundings, Du Maurier adds to a feeling of horror with the marking of time. Nat quickly realizes that the bird attacks follow a schedule, matching the coming and going of the tide. This puts a time limit on Nat’s preparations each day. It also means the family must hold out for a specific period of time each night, which adds suspense and tension. The setting’s isolation, desolation, and marking of time combines to set the stage for a classic tale of horror.

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