Maria Bustos Instructor: Ms. Cowart English 102 February‚ 4‚ 2015 Short Story Essay #1 “Where are you going‚ Where have you been” The short story about Connie deals with the experience of a young girl that is haunted by her good looks and cryptic behaviors. Inspired by a Life article of a serial killer‚ Oates created the story to: “It was not the number of murders that intrigued me‚ but the disturbing fact that a number of teenagers –from “good” families—aided and abetted his crimes” (Oates
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
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
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
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
Premium
Where 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
Premium Family Marriage Mother
Essay #1 2. Characterize Connie in “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” and make a case for why she gives in and goes with Arnold Friend. The short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oates was quite interesting. Even though it was fiction‚ I believe that it could be based on a true story. There are times that young girls get themselves into situations that they feel they cannot escape. This story is a perfect example of why teenage girls
Free Joyce Carol Oates Short story Essay
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
Premium Family Mother Short story
Southern literature paper In the short story “Where are you going and Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates one of the main things that readers find is the suspicion surrounding the character Arnold Friend. Supporting this is Friend’s words which are so impactful on Connie‚ and why she didn’t just pick up the phone and call nine-one-one to end the whole conflict in the first place. Much of the research I found was based off this question pointing out how a person would react to this scenario
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
Connie’s transformation. Imagery and symbols throughout the story strengthen the main themes to show the contrast of Connie’s fantasies and reality. “Where are you going‚ where have you been.”‚ leaves us with the question can we handle such a change? Good and evil‚ yin and yang‚ the idea of everything and everyone having two opposite sides has been talked about by humans for centuries and that’s just what Oats is commenting on throughout the story starting with the main character Connie. An average teenage
Premium Family Woman Mother
“Where are you going‚ where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates In the short story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚” author Joyce Carol Oates depicts the main character as a fifteen year old daydreamer. Her name is Connie‚ and she is obsessed with her appearance. Connie’s mother constantly teases her about looking in the mirror and always obsessing over her looks. Connie believes her mother does this because her own looks have faded. Connie has an older sister‚ June. June is constantly
Premium Family Joyce Carol Oates Short story
Charles Schmid‚ the serial killer that Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? was based on‚ would try to look like Elvis Presley to lure girls to him. Music is a motif that shows up in the story multiple times. Joyce Carol Oates uses music to show Connie’s comfort‚ emotion‚ and the bait that lured Connie to Arnold. First of all‚ Oates uses it to show when Connie feels comfortable. For example‚ “... the music was always in the background‚ like music at a church service‚ it was something to depend
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Fiction Short story