“Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” should not be read through a fantasy/allegorical lens‚ but through a lens of reality. Reading it through the former limits the potency of the story. Everything that takes place in the story is believable‚ and in fact‚ many details of the story are based on real events. Arnold Friend is based on Charles Schmid‚ a real life serial killer who was responsible for the murder of three young girls. Schmid was arrested in 1965 for the rape and murder of Allen Rowe;
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“You can’t change who you are. No matter how you struggle‚ some things will never change. And maybe they shouldn’t” (Thurman‚ Rob). “Identity is a powerful organizing presence in social life today” putting people into sections concerning likes and dislikes‚ culture and customs‚ separates them via social‚ economic and religious differences‚ identity makes a person‚ a person (Leve‚ Lauren). The character regarding one’s self is shaped by identity‚ how they view themselves‚ and largely how society
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Oates "Where are you going‚ Where have you been?" is one that has had many interpretations over there years‚ by many literary critics and readers alike‚ generating a vast list of themes and meanings to the story. Some have declared the story to be a "feminist allegory‚" while others argue that one of the main characters‚ Arnold‚ is a "savior" or "messiah figure‚" as popular figures during the 1960’s were to young girls like Connie‚ the main character. Though many interpretations have been made‚ and
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Miller 1 Timothy B. Miller Prof. Nicholas Young LITR-221 June 23‚ 2013 Where Have You Been‚ Where Are You Going: A. Friend’s View. His name was Arnold Friend. He was getting older but still liked the young ladies around town. Arnold came from a broken home. His father had been in prison since right after his birth for some reason or another and his mother did her best to raise him courting a string of good-for-nothing losers who were in and out of her life faster than crap through a goose
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“Do what you can‚ with what you have‚ where you are‚” is a quote by Theodore Roosevelt. On October 27‚ 1858‚ a huge United States influence was born. Not only a leader‚ protector‚ vice president‚ governor‚ but a United States President. “Teedie” Roosevelt was born into a wealthy family in New York City‚ New York. He was born to the parents‚ Martha Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt. Martha worked as Socialite and Theodore as a Philanthropist. As young child‚ Teddy was very unhealthy‚ however‚ in teenage
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persona. With this liberty‚ the identity of an individual isn’t limited to one set of characteristics as many external and internal situations either influence the cognitive decision making complex of humans. In the short story‚ "Where are you going‚ where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates‚ reveals through the characterization of Connie and her settings the duality of human beings. Also‚ using symbols and patterns to strongly put emphasis on how the underdeveloped mind of adolescents make way for
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Wrong Impressions The short story‚ “Where Are You going‚ Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates explains how a young girl was struggling to find herself. Oates writes about a girl named Connie who was 16 years old and was lost in a world of fantasy. Connie had a split personality/image while at home and when she was out with her friends. Living in a world of fantasy‚ Connie would ignore her family by tuning them out and being distant. Connie would constantly be in front of the mirror admiring
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Where Are You Going ‚Where Have You Been is a story written by Joyce Carol. The story talks about this fifthteen year old girl named Connie. Connie is the young child in her family. Her mother and her does not have a great relationship‚ because she is always being compared to her old sister June. Connie goes out with her friends to the mall. They walk pass this gold cadillac where this man named Arnold Friend says that he is going to get her. On Sunday her family went to BBQ and Connie decided to
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while saving cats falling from trees? Does one have to be a hero by saving someone from a burning building? What qualifies as a hero? Many people have their own definition and vision of a hero. Heroism comes in many ways through attitudes and acts of oneself. I believe heroism is the intent of doing something for the benefit of others‚ and not caring about the consequences that might ensue. In Joyce Carol Oates’s "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚" we see the character of Connie in a process
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The prohibition movement shows that no matter what restrictions are put into place‚ if people want to do something‚ they will find a way to do it. Alcohol may have been banned nationwide‚ but that didn’t stop people from enjoying themselves and doing what they wanted to do. This same exact thing happens today as well. The prohibition movement began with the idea of temperance‚ which was a sort of perfectionist movement. People thought of alcohol as something unfit for a pure society‚ and beginning
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