Women have built an image for themselves over the years as independent‚ strong‚ and smart. However‚ the women in the following stories represent a different image for women. In both short stories‚ “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” and “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?”‚ the protagonists are lured by their bad decisions leading to their demise; the victims’ bad decisions along with the criminals’ bad intentions led to death creating the plot of both stories. Although‚ the stories have the same
Premium Gender Female Woman
Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is about a 15 year old girl named Connie. Connie is the dark blond haired girl who catches all the attention and knows she looks good. The story is somewhat journalistic in the sense that there are few extreme stylistic flourishes or complicated sentence structures. Oates’s spare style allows the images in the story to stand out in realistic coherence‚ in a way that makes one feel they have some unexplainable importance. “There’s your
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
“Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is the suspenseful tale of fifteen year old Connie and her situation with a strange man. Connie‚ who usually enjoys the attention of the older boys‚ sees the man randomly when she is on a date. Some time later‚ the man shows up to Connie’s house and asks her if she wants to go for a ride with him and his friend. The man introduces himself as Arnold Friend‚ claiming to be eighteen years old. Connie soon begins to realize the two men look much older than
Premium
The story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” is essentially about a young woman’s strive for independence‚ which eventually leads to conflict. Girls today appear as mature women and in addition‚ are put into adult situations sometimes unwillingly. Oates portrays a social issue that relates to this current society by using symbolism and characterization while taking the reader on a journey throughout the thoughts and feelings of a teenage girl. There are two main symbols the author uses
Premium Beauty contest Beauty Childhood
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‚
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
“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
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Gender role Life
English Comp II 11 April 2013 The Only Journey is the One Within The purpose of the journey of life is the journey itself - not to get somewhere. We already are somewhere‚ exactly where we need to be and to go forward from. It’s not about the destination/ending point‚ but about destiny‚ which is an eternal going forward that is already here‚ all along the way. It is our manifest destiny to live and learn and grow throughout eternity. Life is often described as a journey of discovery and growth
Premium Meaning of life Life Religion
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
Premium Courage Hero Joyce Carol Oates
English 1B September 28‚ 2014 Where Are you Going‚ Where HaveYou Been? Analysis “Where Are you Going‚ Where Have You Been? Is a short story by Joyce Carol Oates about a fifteen year old girl’s that lives a dual life for self-importance‚ an unforgiving desire for irresponsibility‚ yet doubtfulness to leave the security of family and the comfort ‘of sleeping on her bed again’ ( Oates 77) . Connie is a young girl that likes listening to music ‘that made everything so good” (Oates 66) and watching movies
Premium Joyce Carol Oates Short story Fiction
Finding Her Identity: An Analysis of “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? Joyce Carol Oates‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been is about a fifteen year old girl named Connie who is searching for her independence from her mother. The exposition is in the month of July at their home‚ where Connie is being scolded by her mother about her being obsessed with her looks. Her mother says‚ “Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty? (171) Her mother wants her to be more
Premium Family Marriage Mother