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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The short story ”Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been” explores feminist ideals about oppressive men who take advantage of women. The story tells about a young girl named Connie who acts and dresses as though she is a mature young woman‚ but she shows her true age of fifteen when an older man‚ Arthur Friend‚ takes advantage of her using fear and threats of violence against her family. The story calls into question whether or not Connie is truly and independent woman‚ but one can clearly see
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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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Teenagers in general are often stereotyped into one general category: unruly‚ uncaring‚ and self-absorbed. In the short story “Where are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates plays on this stereotype. She uses imagery and point of view to direct the reader’s attention to the teenage girl psyche‚ selfish‚ whimsical‚ and longing for attention and affection‚ and how this stereotypical psyche can be distorted and controlled. The protagonist of the story‚ Connie‚ is a vain‚ “typical”
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The decline of the societal and cultural values during 1960s can be seen through Joyce Carol Oates’‚ “Where are you going‚ Where have you been?” The story‚ which narrates the fatal destiny of fifteen year old Connie‚ shows the rise of a pop-culture/music guided society‚ it also shows the rise of the sexual revolution and the disregard for women‚ and the negligence of parents at the time. In the story the devil is represented by ARNOLD FRIEND‚ who at the end of the story seduces Connie into her own
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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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Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? Innocent‚ young‚ naïve; this is how Connie was at her age of fifteen. She liked the attention boys gave her and how it made her feel. A man named Arnold Friend‚ whose much older than her‚ has stalked Connie and wants to convince her to go for a ride in his car. Connie doesn’t notice the man’s older features and this causes her young mind to contemplate going with Arnold in his car. Connie is more conflicted with herself‚ she battles to make the right choices
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Essay #1 2. Characterize Connie in “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” and make a case for why she gives in and goes with Arnold Friend. The short story “Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oates was quite interesting. Even though it was fiction‚ I believe that it could be based on a true story. There are times that young girls get themselves into situations that they feel they cannot escape. This story is a perfect example of why teenage girls
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Charles Schmid‚ the serial killer that Where Are You Going‚ Where Have You Been? was based on‚ would try to look like Elvis Presley to lure girls to him. Music is a motif that shows up in the story multiple times. Joyce Carol Oates uses music to show Connie’s comfort‚ emotion‚ and the bait that lured Connie to Arnold. First of all‚ Oates uses it to show when Connie feels comfortable. For example‚ “... the music was always in the background‚ like music at a church service‚ it was something to depend
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Where are you Going‚ Where have you been? Is a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates. The story involves a 15 year old girl named Connie that is rebelling against her mother’s whishes. Connie often rides with her friends to a shopping plaza to hang out and meet other people. One evening while she is out with her friends she leaves with a boy named Eddie. On the way to Eddie’s car she sees a stranger in a convertible that tells her “Gonna get you‚ baby”. Then one Sunday after missing church Connie’s
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