How does the setting of "mending wall" help develop its central idea? responses the rural setting pits the speaker, who is from the area, against his neighbor, who has recently arrived from the city. the rural setting pits the speaker, who is from the area, against his neighbor, who has recently arrived from the city. the modern setting makes the speaker want to rebuild the old walls that have crumbled along the border of his property. the modern setting makes the speaker want to rebuild the old walls that have crumbled along the border of his property., the isolated setting is one reason why the speaker begins to wonder whether he and his neighbor need walls to separate their well-defined properties. the isolated setting is one reason why the speaker begins to wonder whether he and his neighbor need walls to separate their well-defined properties. the interior setting makes the speaker feel as though the walls of his home are barriers that are keeping him from a friendship with his neighbor.