Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is the haunting saga of a fifteen year old girl’s moral struggles that has resonated with readers since the story’s initial publication. Arnold Friend is a mystery of a character; his origins and nature have been debated time and time again. The real answer is that there is no real answer‚ and Arnold Friend is a character with a nature entirely up to the individual interpretation of any one reader. It can certainly be agreed
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Nightmare or Reality? Joyce Carol Oates creates an inquisitive plot that causes the reader to question events in the story‚ “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” She develops this story featuring a girl named Connie‚ who has an encounter with a boy at a restaurant that she doesn’t know. “He wagged a finger and laughed and said‚ “Gonna get you‚ baby‚” and Connie turned away…” (Oates 210). Startled Connie only saw this boy once that night‚ but the story goes on‚ and a few days later he comes
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In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been‚” Arnold Friend‚ a conniving antagonist‚ charms a naive teenager named Connie into believing he will rescue her from her inattentive family. However‚ at the story’s climax‚ Connie fears for her life yet cannot resist Arnold’s temptations. Although details of Friend’s appearance‚ speech‚ and actions should warn Connie of his evil intentions‚ through Oates’s portrayal of Friend as a devil-figure‚ Connie is easily “conned” foreshadowing
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Teenagers have always had it harder than the rest of the age groups. Whether it is the frustration of having old-fashioned parents or the annoyance of being too young to experience nearly everything‚ the minds of those under eighteen become a never-ending fantasy of being an adult. The seemingly carefree lifestyle of older kids seems to be impossible to wait on. 15-year-old Connie is no exception to this way of thinking. In a hurry to grow up‚ Connie‚ in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going‚ Where
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Where have you Been Smooth Talking? In the short story Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates‚ the lifestyle of protagonist Connie is described. Connie was a typical 15-year-old. She was outgoing‚ fun‚ and social. She had the worst relationship with her mother and her relationship with her father was not explained because he was not home much. Connie’s main concern was boys; she would do anything to meet up with them. That is not always a good idea because you never know
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The protagonist of Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” is a vain and stubborn girl named Connie. Fifteen years old‚ she believes beauty is everything and is nothing short of rebellious‚ maintaining two different personas: one for at home with her family and one for going out with her friends. One night out with her girl friends‚ Connie spots a young man watching her. He promises to come get her. The next day‚ the man comes to Connie’s house‚ keeping his word‚ and spends
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The story‚ "Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates is truly littered with conventions of Psychoanalysis. Freud developed a list of defense mechanisms used by the human subconscious in order to deal with issues too intense for the conscious mind. These strategies of the psyche are translated into symbols scattered throughout this work. These symbols are expressed through the characters of Connie‚ and Arnold Friend. The first convention is denial. Denial is when the subconscious
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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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The Two Sides of Connie ‘Narrative details in ’ Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?’ The story ’ Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?’ is about the fifteen year old Connie who is a girl struggling with her sexuality. The girl tries to be an adult and attractive‚ but at the same time‚ she hides her sexual side from her family. These two sides cannot remain separate from each other at all times and collide with each other‚ which this short story depicts. The main idea in this short story
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junior year in high school I vividly remember rushing to my first class and almost being knocked over by another student. Immediately I looked up and was furious‚ she didn’t even say excuse me she just kept walking. My books flew everywhere and on top of that I was now late for class. Later‚ I learned that this young lady’s name was Lilly. Lilly was about 5’6”‚ African American‚ and had long black hair. After Lilly bumped into me‚ I began to notice her more and more around school. I noticed that she
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