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
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
Women have built an image for themselves over the years as independent‚ strong‚ and smart. However‚ the women in the following stories represent a different image for women. In both short stories‚ “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”‚ the protagonists are lured by their bad decisions leading to their demise; the victims’ bad decisions along with the criminals’ bad intentions led to death creating the plot of both stories. Although‚ the stories have the same
Premium Gender Female Woman
In the story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” by Joyce Oates‚ the audience explores the story of Connie‚ a normal teenage girl‚ who meets Arnold Friend‚ a seemingly harmless character at first‚ but we later come to find out that he has been stalking her and Arnold
Premium Psychology Love Interpersonal relationship
story‚ “Where are you going where have you been?” Joyce Carol Oates describes the emotional ride of a fifteen year old girl‚ on the verge of becoming an adult and losing her innocence of mind and body along the way. She has a difficult time growing up and developing her own personality as they would have her react to her circumstances.“Everything about her bad two side to it‚ one for Home and one for anywhere that was not Home.” Connie feels that the best attribute that a girl can have is being
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
with music‚ miniskirts‚ sexual freedom and drugs. At that time‚ Joyce Carol Oates created her works‚ in which she talked about ordinary everyday affairs‚ giving them a specific dark climate fueled by the second bottom. A short story "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been" was written in such climate. Oates addressed the problem of growing up in the 1960s. For many people this period seemed to be bliss‚ but for others it was a period full of doubts and dilemmas. The main character of this story‚
Premium United States Vietnam War Sociology
“Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” should not be read through a fantasy/allegorical lens‚ but through a lens of reality. Reading it through the former limits the potency of the story. Everything that takes place in the story is believable‚ and in fact‚ many details of the story are based on real events. Arnold Friend is based on Charles Schmid‚ a real life serial killer who was responsible for the murder of three young girls. Schmid was arrested in 1965 for the rape and murder of Allen Rowe;
Premium Crime Murder Law
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
Premium Short story Fiction Feeling
The real world chooses to hide the wickedness of mankind‚ while the world of fiction chooses to highlight it. In the stories “The Overcoat” by Nikolai Gogol‚ “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez‚ and “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates‚ especially highlight the time the horrible aspects of man. Each one highlighting the corruption of man in their own unique way. The social hierarchy is a key part to the wickedness of mankind. This is a major
Premium Nikolai Gogol The Overcoat Joyce Carol Oates
amazing detailed moment of theft of chastity‚ or at least what is left of it‚ in "Where Are You Going‚ Where have You Been?" With symbolic imagery‚ major bibliomancy‚ and extreme personal conflict Oates easily manages to get her point across of the complete loss of innocence. A constant image that is brought to the reader’s creative thoughts is colors. The “convertible jalopy painted gold” (Lit 326) when Connie was with Eddie‚ the “open jalopy‚ painted a bright gold that caught the sunlight opaquely”
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
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
Premium Beauty contest Beauty Childhood