Joyce Carol Oates’s short story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” focuses on the seemingly typical life of a teenage girl‚ Connie. The character irony is found in the fact that a teenage girl in the 1960’s struggled with the same issues teenagers battle with in present society. Connie‚ the main character‚ fights with her parents‚ does not want to be like her older sister‚ and thinks very highly of herself. As a teenage girl typically believes‚ Connie imagines she is the center of attention
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
Joyce Carol Oates’ story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is initially about a teen (Connie) who is going through the beginning phases of teen life‚ playing into the stereotype of an image-conscious teen. She is recalcitrant with her parents‚ sneaks off to start hanging out with boys‚ et cetera. About a third of the way through the story‚ a man that she had seen earlier at the diner shows up to take her out for a drive‚ and the situation goes downhill as she asks him more and more questions
Premium Joyce Carol Oates
world where the presence of technology can be seen everywhere‚ it is impossible for teens to stay disconnected from social media for long. Every day teens and adults alike can connect to their accounts instantly by using apps on their cellphones. In addition to the increased use of social media apps‚ the popularity of dating apps has greatly increased in recent years. These dating apps are sometimes misleading and can lead to potentially dangerous meetings. In the short story “Where Are You Going
Premium Sociology Mobile phone Internet
Do not knock on the devil’s door‚ for he is bound to answer. Unfortunately this is exactly what happens to Connie‚ the main character in the short-story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oates. In the story‚ fifteen year old Connie is like any other teenage girl. She is vain‚ unkind to her parents‚ and desperate to grow up. Connie makes rebellious decisions such as sneaking across the highway to a drive-in restaurant for older kids‚ experimenting with sex‚ and lying
Premium Short story Joyce Carol Oates Family
The story‚ Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol‚ is a story told in a third person perspective‚ regarding Connie‚ a 15-year-old. She and her mother have not at all gotten along. Her mother consistently compares her with her sister‚ and her father barely ever speaks with his daughters. One night‚ Connie and her best friend go to a shopping plaza. As instantly the adult is out of sight they cross the highway into a drive-in restaurant and stay on the restaurant’s counter. Thereafter
Premium Family Mother Short story
Fantasy versus Reality in Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates has a constant theme of reality and fantasy running parallel for 15 year old Connie. This short story begins with a description of Connie’s vain personality. The narrator describes her as pretty and self-centered (Oates 421). To emphasize her selfishness‚ Connie is contrasted with her sister‚ June‚ who is chubby‚ plain‚ and well-behaved. Connie’s mother always praises
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story
hidden meaning behind simple actions in their works. For example the eyes are commonly known as the windows to the soul making the simple action of looking into another’s eyes much more complicated in a piece of literature(Schwartz). “Of course‚ the meaning of the words is that by looking into the eyes of a person one can see their hidden emotions and attitudes and thoughts” (Schwartz). Also when the author makes a point to mention in detail items that have reflective surfaces they are inferring that
Premium Fiction Short story Literature
adulthood. In Joyce Carol Oates’ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?" the author goes into depth of the transition from being a carefree‚ innocent child to the complexity and uncertainty of the future when one becomes an adult. The message begins even before the story itself actually does. The title illustrates the passage of time in life such as the phrase "where are you going" refers to the question of what direction does one have for his own life. "Where have you been?" is a question which involves
Free Joyce Carol Oates Short story Coming of age
Oates ’ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?": Arnold Fiend In Joyce Carol Oates ’ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?" critics argue whether the character of Arnold Friend‚ clearly the story ’s antagonist‚ represents Satan in the story. Indeed‚ Arnold Friend is an allegorical devil figure for the main reason that he tempts Connie‚ the protagonist‚ into riding off with him in his car. Oates characterizes Arnold Friend at first glance as "a boy with shaggy‚ black hair‚ in a convertible
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Devil
Comparison of Smooth Talk to “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oakes’s short story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” was written in 1966 and twenty years later was made into a movie entitled Smooth Talk‚ winner of the 1985 U.S. Film Festival for best dramatic picture. The writing by Oates is loosely based on a true story described as “the tale of Charles Schmid‚ a twenty-three-year-old who cruises teenage hangouts‚ picking up girls for rides in his gold convertible”
Premium Joyce Carol Oates