Hurst 1 Allison Hurst Professor Ben Mayo English Comp II 30 April 2011 Analysis of “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates In 1966‚ Joyce Carol Oates published her short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”. Oates was inspired to write this story after reading about a serial killer that was referred to as “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Oates was disturbed by the number of teenagers that this killer was able to persuade to help him and keep his secrets
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The story “Where are you going‚ where have you been?”‚ written by Joyce Carol Oates‚ is a psychological thriller. It contains many elements throughout the story that the reader can only attempt to understand. This story can affect one on many different levels. It can cause one to be lost in thought‚ stuck on the complexity of the 15-year-old main character. It can forever creep one out by the unforgettable traits of the main antagonist. All the while employing many hidden meanings into the story
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Be Careful What You Wish For Anything that is too much is harmful. The main character in "Where are you going‚ Where have you been?" Connie‚ faces the end conclusion of her shallow ways when she is approached by evil in human form. She had an excess of self-confidence. This self-confidence leads to a false sense of security and bad reputation. Connie also had a large amount of bad choices. She would do her best to impress boys with her looks; eventually she impressed the wrong guy. This
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As I read the story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”‚ I noticed that there are two stories taking place that would lead me to anticipate different future events. From the beginning of the story‚ the main character‚ Connie‚ shows to be a lazy‚ stylish girl who is trying‚ unlike her sister June‚ to be independent of family life in favor of breaking through sexual maturity and independence. Knowing about Connie’s desire to act as an adult made me believe that Connie will not refuse if Arnold
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In the short story Where Are you Going Where Have You been‚the main character Connie is very promiscuous and struggles with finding herself. Joyce Carol Oates takes the reader on a journey of teen rebellion turned tragic and uses Connie to show that becoming independent is not easy. Throughout the story you can interpret that Connie felt vulnerable and neglected by her family and friends. Her mother always talked about how she should be more like her older sister‚ Jane “she was so plain and chunky
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In the short story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates‚ Connie’s house illustrates irony because of the changes that occur in Connie’s behavior towards her mom throughout the story. At the beginning of the story‚ Connie epitomizes a normal teenager’s feeling towards her parents‚ especially feelings towards her mother when at home. “Connie’s mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over‚” (492). With
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In the short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚” Joyce Carol Oats uses characterization including methods such as symbolism and allusions to develop her characters‚ and thus establish her theme of the cross roads Connie faces in her transition from the innocence of her adolescence to the impurity of adulthood facilitated by the antagonist‚ Arnold Friend. From the beginning of the story‚ the reader sees Connie has a strong desire to make her early transition into adulthood. Although
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The story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates shows the reader the self-created illusion that the main character Connie has created in order to better understand herself. Connie’s reality is altered as she has this dream that has manifested due to her desire for attention from others. Throughout the story there are many occurrences that support the idea that the entire story is a dream that was made up by Connie’s subconscious. Throughout the story‚ Arnold mentions many
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Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? (WAYG‚ WHYB)” shows readers that romantic and superficial ideas can lead to tragic consequences. In the short story‚ Oates uses the plot and symbolism to demonstrate the story’s perspective on fantasy love. WAYG‚ WHYB is written in 1966 by Oates. In a time where women are beginning to explore their mind and the world. As we read this now in 2017 and the time has changed‚ many people can interpret this story many ways. What is Arnold Friend
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Where are you going‚ Where have you been? This is a horrifying and haunting story that shows a girl who resulted in an awful situation. She rejects the role of being a daughter‚ sister‚ and a nice girl to refine her sexual personality. She has an obsession with her looks‚ loves to hang out with her friends and flirts with boys older than her. This award directly goes to Connie which is the main character of the book called‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol. Connie is
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