In Joyce Carol Oates’s short story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” (1966)‚ Connie is an adolescent that faces literal and psychological challenges. Within the conflicts of the story‚ there are two compelling questions that allow you to take a special interest of a deeper meaning. Taken from the title‚ where has Connie been? Where is Connie going? In a surprising twist‚ the story is not only about a naïve girl that gets lured out of her home by an older gentleman‚ but can also be taken
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innocence is freedom from sin‚ moral wrong‚ or guilt through lack of knowledge of evil. At some point in everyone’s life they will eventually lose there innocence‚ it just depends on the choices they have made. In Joyce Carol Oates “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been.” She uses characterization and imagery to show how Connie is dealing with the loss of her innocence Oates characterization of Arnold Friend shows how Connie’s perspective of Arnold and his looks leads to the deception of who
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“Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is the suspenseful tale of fifteen year old Connie and her situation with a strange man. Connie‚ who usually enjoys the attention of the older boys‚ sees the man randomly when she is on a date. Some time later‚ the man shows up to Connie’s house and asks her if she wants to go for a ride with him and his friend. The man introduces himself as Arnold Friend‚ claiming to be eighteen years old. Connie soon begins to realize the two men look much older than
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English Comp II 11 April 2013 The Only Journey is the One Within The purpose of the journey of life is the journey itself - not to get somewhere. We already are somewhere‚ exactly where we need to be and to go forward from. It’s not about the destination/ending point‚ but about destiny‚ which is an eternal going forward that is already here‚ all along the way. It is our manifest destiny to live and learn and grow throughout eternity. Life is often described as a journey of discovery and growth
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a hero. Heroism comes in many ways through attitudes and acts of oneself. I believe heroism is the intent of doing something for the benefit of others‚ and not caring about the consequences that might ensue. In Joyce Carol Oates’s "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚" we see the character of Connie in a process of making the hardest decisions of her life as she chooses the heroic path. By having the knowledge of her own fate and life atrisk of her family being hurt‚ she decided to go with the
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In “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” Connie is trying really hard to be an adult. Part of being an adult for her‚ involves having men be sexually attracted to her. However‚ there is just one problem. Connie is still a teenager‚ therefore she remains dependent on adults and her family. Despite the constraints of still being a child for all intents and purposes‚ Connie does her best to assert her independence and being adult. Connie actually works pretty hard on trying to show that she
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The ambiguous resolutions of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been and The Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed is a coincidence that I found quite strange. In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been‚ the author doesn’t tell us what happens to Connie after Arnold Friend forces her to go with him. Does she die? Does she Live? Similarly‚ the Night Rhonda Ferguson Was Killed‚ the answer as to how Casandra will manage to overcome her friend’s sudden death and her life’s struggles remains to be open to
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The story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” is essentially about a young woman’s strive for independence‚ which eventually leads to conflict. Girls today appear as mature women and in addition‚ are put into adult situations sometimes unwillingly. Oates portrays a social issue that relates to this current society by using symbolism and characterization while taking the reader on a journey throughout the thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl. There are two main symbols the author uses
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Music in “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” In the story‚ repetition and strands of music take on a role of a character for Connie‚ offering a safe haven for a troubled girl. Throughout the story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have you Been?”‚ Oates uses the element of strands and repetition of music to create a safe haven for Connie in which she can escape. The theme from a 1950’s song “It’s all Over Now‚ Baby Blue.” By Bob Dylan connects to the theme of escaping from “Where Are You Going? Where
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In “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”‚ by Joyce Carol Oates‚ the setting creates division between innocence and adulthood. In the story‚ the protagonist is a complicated and confrontational young woman named Connie. The narrator explains that “Everything about her had to sides to it” (Oates 1). Connie has two personas‚ the person she is at home and the rebellious and carefree young woman she is away from her home. Throughout the plot‚ the doorway symbolizes a threshold that Connie has to
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