“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a twisted short story that showcases the theme of inescapable guilt and shame through the psychoanalytical lens of dreams. In the story, a young girl, Connie longs for maturity and male attention while ignoring her family. Connie wants the lifestyle of being thrilled and feeling wanted since she doesn’t get that attention at home, therefore, her demeanor at home is the polar opposite of her demeanor on evenings out. However, it could
Figuring out who you are as a teenager can be very difficult. In the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates this is evident with the main character Connie. Connie, a young fifteen year old, has a split personality that while at home seems like a normal teenager, yet outside of her home she is very sexual; she manages to keep them separate until Arnold shows up at her home unwelcomed. In the story Connie is a young girl who is trying to feel alive and be popular, in
In the story “ Where are you going, Where have you been?” Connie is a young adult who tries to have the appearance of being a mature woman who is experienced with men, but when she meets Arnold it only tells us that this is only a performance. She tries to be more of an attractive adult through her clothing, hairstyle, and her behavior to get the attention she wants from boys. The love and romance that is evident in songs she listens to and the images of pop culture that surround her are a lot more
D” and “Where are you going, where have you been” are short stories written by Joyce Carol Oates; they are centered on the lives of two young teenage girls. Connie is the main character of “Where are you going, where have you been”; Lisette is the main character of “I.D”. In both short stories, Connie and Lisette are depicted as young naïve girls’, having eagerness for independence. Due to both characters’ lack of experience and knowledge, they do not realize that their poor decisions have consequences
of Arnold Friend. Joyce Carol Oates, Author of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a short story with themes that consist of search for self as well as identity. Through the use of imagery, dialogue, and characterization Oates displays similarities between the Greek myth, “Persephone and Demeter” to “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. Through the use of imagery, the similarities between “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “Persephone and Demeter” are evident. Oates
“The end of the American dream” During the 1950’s and 1960’s America underwent a social revolution where many values that had long been taken for granted were now being questioning. The American Civil Rights Movement, the radical change of attitudes toward sexuality, and the hippie counterculture upended traditional forms of moral authority. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, is a remarkable story by Joyce Carol Oates, which asks the readers to analyze the frightening reality of the contemporary
After reading the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” it makes me thinks about the society we live in today. There are many young girls that are just like the main character Connie, looking for attention in all the wrong places. Connie was willing to dress the part of being an older woman, but was still so very naïve little girl that does not have I clue about is going on in the world around her. It is very shocking how this author’s story from 1960s makes a strong connection
hook the reader and get them interested. In this essay, the use of suspense in two short stories and how it affects the conflict and resolution will be addressed. The two short stories are, “Button Button”,by Richard Matheson and, “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been”,by Joyce Carol Oates. Both of the authors use suspense, which creates tension in the reader and keeps them intrigued. The Suspense in these stories is very effective. One example in “Button Button” Norma says “Reaching out she pressed
are hiding on the inside. Meeting new people can sometimes be easy for an outgoing person, but hard for someone that is hesitant to others. When you are given the chance to meet someone new and become acquaintances, you need to be cautious. If one is not cautious, issues may arise after their meeting. In the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, the author, Joyce Carol Oates, digs into the reality of meeting new people and having it go the wrong way. As Connie, the main character, is growing
Friend in the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. The impact of these words on the reader will vary based on how one approaches them. To some, they may be the soul of mundanity, with little to no significance or weight apart from some arrogance on the part of Arnold. To others, they may be indicative a deeper, much darker, reality within the story. Some critics have ventured to declare Arnold Friend as being the embodiment of Satan. Many before me have expounded upon the evidences