One story from the short story unit that depicts impossibilities is “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been.” Connie’s vanity is not abnormal; many teenagers who are her age and attractive act the same way. The impossibility of the story appears in the form of Arnold Friend. Whether he is Satan‚ a serial killer‚ Jesus‚ Bob Dylan‚ or none of the above‚ his presence seems odd. Arnold Friend seems to know too much about Connie’s life to simply be a stalker. He know that the rest of Connie’s family
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What will happen to you? Every person comes face to face at some point in life with vital decisions. Some of the decisions are minor ones‚ while others can bring turning points in life. In Joyce Carol Oates’ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?" she displays a particular instant in the main character’s life. This character‚ Connie was caught in the difficult transition from her youth and innocence to a doubtful future. Throughout the story Connie alternates between two very different sides
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Danette Willis June 15‚ 2013 English 11238A A Masterpiece in Disguise The first line of Oates literary work “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” indicates that the conclusion to Connie’s existence may have come to a terrible end. In the short story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” written by Joyce Carol Oates‚ the story takes you on a journey through the eyes of a helpless girl‚ who‚ as shown by the three opening words‚ came to a very unfortunate collapse. This particular
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wish that they had an influence or guide to help them. For many‚ this is where the parents step in. Parents are meant to support and help an adolescent when needed‚ especially during this difficult transition. However‚ this is not always the case. Some parents allow the adolescent to make the move alone and endure the hard times. But‚ in the end‚ what are missing are the values and morals needed to survive on the real world. A good relationship with parents makes adolescents ’ transition into adulthood
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that causes the reader to question events in the story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” She develops this story featuring a girl named Connie‚ who has an encounter with a boy at a restaurant that she doesn’t know. “He wagged a finger and laughed and said‚ “Gonna get you‚ baby‚” and Connie turned away…” (Oates 210). Startled Connie only saw this boy once that night‚ but the story goes on‚ and a few days later he comes to her house where she learns that the boy’s name is “Arnold Friend.” She
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Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is the haunting saga of a fifteen year old girl’s moral struggles that has resonated with readers since the story’s initial publication. Arnold Friend is a mystery of a character; his origins and nature have been debated time and time again. The real answer is that there is no real answer‚ and Arnold Friend is a character with a nature entirely up to the individual interpretation of any one reader. It can certainly be agreed
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The story‚ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates is truly littered with conventions of Psychoanalysis. Freud developed a list of defense mechanisms used by the human subconscious in order to deal with issues too intense for the conscious mind. These strategies of the psyche are translated into symbols scattered throughout this work. These symbols are expressed through the characters of Connie‚ and Arnold Friend. The first convention is denial. Denial is when the subconscious
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In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚” Arnold Friend‚ a conniving antagonist‚ charms a naive teenager named Connie into believing he will rescue her from her inattentive family. However‚ at the story’s climax‚ Connie fears for her life yet cannot resist Arnold’s temptations. Although details of Friend’s appearance‚ speech‚ and actions should warn Connie of his evil intentions‚ through Oates’s portrayal of Friend as a devil-figure‚ Connie is easily “conned” foreshadowing
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The protagonist of Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” 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
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Where have you Been Smooth Talking? In the short story Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates‚ the lifestyle of protagonist Connie is described. Connie was a typical 15-year-old. She was outgoing‚ fun‚ and social. She had the worst relationship with her mother and her relationship with her father was not explained because he was not home much. Connie’s main concern was boys; she would do anything to meet up with them. That is not always a good idea because you never know
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