Arnold is supposed to represent. One of the most interesting theories is that Arnold Friend is a representation of evil‚ or the devil himself. A wistful talker‚ who can convince someone to act without moving a muscle. He possesses temptation‚ luring Connie into something she simply never imagined could happen. Arnold’s car had the numbers 33‚ 19‚ and 17 written on it. Those numbers are attributed to a bible verse‚ further speculating the belief. Arnold walks with a wobble‚ mainly because he seems to
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
protagonist‚ Connie‚ from Joyce Carol Oates short story “Where are you going‚ Where have you been.” Rather than heed the gut feeling most readers have at this moment in the story‚ Connie ignorantly emerges from her house and engages the stranger‚ Arnold Friend. As soon as she leaves the safety of her home‚ she has unknowingly surrendered to Arnold
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Fiction Short story
INTRODUCTION: “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol‚ showcases the inevitable effects of youthful exuberance in a teenage girl. The story is a compelling tale which unveils the vulnerability of Connie‚ a young teenage girl who could barely substantiate fantasy from reality. She prides herself as a pretty girl who understands the basic principles of life. Her encounter with Arnold Friend reveals her as someone who lacks the mental ability to make meaningful decisions and accurate
Premium Boy Coming out Parent
” is a vain and stubborn girl named Connie. Fifteen years old‚ she believes beauty is everything and is nothing short of rebellious‚ maintaining two different personas: one for at home with her family and one for going out with her friends. One night out with her girl friends‚ Connie spots a young man watching her. He promises to come get her. The next day‚ the man comes to Connie’s house‚ keeping his word‚ and spends the remainder of the story convincing Connie to come along with him in his golden
Premium Family Joyce Carol Oates Mother
Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? Innocent‚ young‚ naïve; this is how Connie was at her age of fifteen. She liked the attention boys gave her and how it made her feel. A man named Arnold Friend‚ whose much older than her‚ has stalked Connie and wants to convince her to go for a ride in his car. Connie doesn’t notice the man’s older features and this causes her young mind to contemplate going with Arnold in his car. Connie is more conflicted with herself‚ she battles to make the right choices especially
Premium Family Marriage Mother
women. Feeling undervalued in their homes and relationships with men‚ women questioned their role in society and the role that sex and gender played in their lives. In “Where Are You Going . . . ‚” Oates explores this social upheaval in miniature: Connie‚ one young woman out of a country of young women‚ must confront her own questions and anxieties as she transitions into adulthood. Her separation from her home and family is violent‚ and Arnold Friend is by no means a savior. But the sense of sweeping
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Protagonist
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 eighteen‚ and she
Premium
story when the protagonist‚ Connie‚ endures internal conflict with her mother and sister and external conflict later in the text when she encounters Arnold Friend. The entire story functions as an allegory‚ representing temptation and evil as well as the innocence of youth‚ both representing the transition from childhood to adulthood. Internal conflict is represented in the story when Connie experiences her mother’s criticisms and constant comparison of her to her
Premium
Connie Connie rejects the role of daughter‚ sister‚ and “nice” girl to cultivate her sexual persona‚ which flourishes only when she is away from her home and family. She makes fun of her frumpy older sister‚ June‚ and is in constant conflict with her family. Her concerns are typically adolescent: she obsesses about her looks‚ listens to music‚ hangs out with her friends‚ flirts with boys‚ and explores her sexuality. She takes great pleasure in the fact that boys and even men find her attractive
Premium Boy Human physical appearance Physical attractiveness
teenager’s concerns‚ but Connie is like two personalities in one person‚ “Everything about her had two sides to it‚ one for home and one for anywhere that was not home: her walk‚ which could be childlike and bobbing‚ or languid enough to make anyone think she was hearing music in her head; her mouth‚ which was pale and smirking most of the time‚ but bright and pink on these evenings out” (Oates 110). Interestingly‚ most of the time‚ her two sides seem to function in harmony and Connie smoothly changes from
Premium United States Vietnam War Sociology