or figuring out if the decisions they make are right and if their experiences are going to help them or just hurt them more in the long run. In Connie’s experience with Arnold Friend‚ whether it is real or a dream‚ the theme of "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚" is ultimately about fear. Likewise‚ "We didn’t‚" while its dominant tone is comic‚ the underlying theme is based on fear. Both stories ultimately deal with the fear of crossing through the passage
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The story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates shows the reader the self-created illusion that the main character Connie has created in order to better understand herself. Connie’s reality is altered as she has this dream that has manifested due to her desire for attention from others. Throughout the story there are many occurrences that support the idea that the entire story is a dream that was made up by Connie’s subconscious. Throughout the story‚ Arnold mentions many
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The Fantasy of Life In the novels The Great Gatsby and "Where Are You Going and Where Have You Been" authors F. Scott Fitzgerald and Joyce Carol Oates show a theme of fantasy versus reality to convey a deeper meaning within their novels. They express this theme using characters such as Gatsby‚ Connie‚ Daisy and Arnold Friend within the stories. Through these characters lives and experiences the theme is created connecting both stories. The theme of fantasy versus reality is used to a great extent
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As humans‚ we tend to suffer from some sort of flaw in our character that cripples us from being able to have a successful life‚ this flaw could lead people to make disastrous decisions that can lead to unfortunate outcomes. Two examples of such can be found in the characters Laura and Connie from the play The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams and “Where Have You Going‚ Where Are You Been?” by Carol Oates respectively. By psychoanalyzing both Laura and Connie‚ it becomes evident‚ through actions
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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
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In Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been Joyce Carol Oates uses compelling themes to convey real life issues to the readers. She also exploits many references to well know fairytales through symbols and motifs. This short story shares the theme of good versus evil to the fairytales Cinderella‚ Rapunzel and Snow White. The theme of evil is first expressed through Connie’s and Cinderella’s afflictions with their sisters that shape the essence of sibling rivalry. Like Cinderella‚ Connie’s sister
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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
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In “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”‚ by Joyce Carol Oates‚ the setting creates division between innocence and adulthood. In the story‚ the protagonist is a complicated and confrontational young woman named Connie. The narrator explains that “Everything about her had to sides to it” (Oates 1). Connie has two personas‚ the person she is at home and the rebellious and carefree young woman she is away from her home. Throughout the plot‚ the doorway symbolizes a threshold that Connie has to
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twentieth centuries‚ continued into the 1960s and 1970s‚ then followed by the 1990s to the twentieth century‚ feminism and feminist grown across the nation. From clubs and organizations‚ to readings and speeches‚ feminist all across the nation‚ and world‚ have influenced aspects of our daily lives‚ including our literature. “Feminist criticism examines the ways in which literature reinforces or undermines the economic‚ political.‚ social‚ and psychological oppression of woman” (Tyson 83). In simpler terms
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“Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is about a teen named Connie who is insecure and is looking for an escape from her household. The main antagonist‚ Arnold Friends main objective is to lure Connie out and take her on a so called “date”. He does this by trying to make small talk. Some of the things said can be very creepy as he seems to have psychic abilities and know everything. One of the more irrelevant things said was‚ “Leave me alone‚” Connie whispered. “Hey‚ you
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