how essential is the setting to the story

The story is probably set around the time it was published, in 1902. It is in a home called Laburnam Villa. There is a sense of rural emptiness about the place. It seems cozy and idyllic to begin with. There is a storm outside but the house feels like a safe sanctuary from it. As the paw gets used by Mr. White, the chaos of the storm becomes personified in the house. The once cozy home is turned into a zombie attacked nightmare.