In her story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates constructed multiple themes like the seek for independence and fantasy vs. reality. What inspired Oates to write this story was the murder of three women in Tucson, Arizona between the times of 1964-66. The man who killed them went by the name Charles Schmid, who was given the nickname The Pied Piper of Tucson. This provoked Oates to help raise awareness, to be aware of your surroundings and don’t trust the unknown. Oates's goal was for Connie to symbolize weakness in a violent and dangerous world. The story begins with Oates describing the main character Connie, as a beautiful young fifteen-year-old girl who had a, “nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s …show more content…
Connie typically attracts older boys, and one day she and her friend Betty went to a drive-thru restaurant when Connie met a boy named Eddie. Eddie and Connie spend some time together and then return to their friend Betty. Connie hid the fact she hung out with Eddie from her mom, trying to act responsible and mature. My reaction to this piece wasn’t too crazy. I think it is very often we come across girls who are attracted to older boys and want to hang out with them to seem “cool”. To the boys, the girls give off vibes of vulnerability and are unknowingly exposed. If I were Connie, I wouldn’t hide hanging out with a boy from my parents simply because something bad could happen and they wouldn’t know who I am with or where I am at. The next part of the story was set on a Sunday. Connie’s family was off to a barbeque and Connie refused to go, “she wasn’t interested, rolling her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it” (Oates 2206). So Connie stayed home that Sunday, inside because it was too hot out, listening to her favorite program on the
Joyce Carol Oates: Where are you going, Where have you been?” The story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” is about a fifteen year old girl Connie. Connie is like any other teenage girl acting more grown up that she really is. She is obsessed with her look and with boys. “She was fifteen and she had a quick nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors, or checking other people’s faces to make sure her won was all right”(323). Teenagers are into their appearance and
In the short story "Where are you going where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oats and the song Wake Up by EDEN, the author and the artist both show the thematic concepts on how fantasies come to an end, and when reality hits, it hits hard. "Where are you going where have you been?" is a short story about a young 15 year old girl who is trying to fit in with the rest of the world, and is very preoccupied with her appearance and living in this pop cultural fantasy. Connie is always ignoring her mother
The short stories “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates and “The lottery” Shirley Jackson both explore deception by concealing the true reality of the situation and then slowly revealing information to surprise the reader. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” explores the ideas of violence, sexuality and family, which all slowly emerge as the protagonist slowly finds out the trickery of a mysterious man she just met. On the other hand, “The Lottery” also advocates
Connie is a young fifteen year old who cares about her sexual drive that men have toward her. “The 1960s unleashed the so called sexual revolution. It seemed more a source of comic relief and tragic nostalgic recirculation than political inspiration…” This revolution consisted of women demanding their own rights so they could become more and more independent. There were significant shifts in social attitudes, behaviors, and institutional regulations at the beginning of the 60’s and also lasted through
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates, revolves around two main characters — Connie and Arnold Friend. Connie is a 15 year old girl, the protagonist in the story, who disrespects her family, and tries to act more mature than she actually is. Arnold Friend is the mysterious “villain” figure in the story that places Connie in an unpleasant situation that causes her to question the extent of her maturity. Throughout the short story Arnold pushes Connie’s
Analyzing Connie, the female protagonist in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” reveals the character’s journey of rebellion, a search for identity, and the protagonist’s psychological problems. Connie appears to be a seemingly normal teenage female during the first few sentences: fifteen years old, physically beautiful, and appears semi-narcissistic. As one reads on, underlying psychological issues begin to unearth themselves. Connie has a habit of needing to know that she is beautiful;
the love children have for them. Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where are you Going, where have you been” and Seamus Heaney’s “Digging” are two examples that display the complicated relationship children have with their parents. These stories also represent the fluctuating feelings children have regarding their parents. The similarities and differences in the short story and poem have the same message; however, they have differences. The theme in “Where are you Going, where have you been” and “Digging” both
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? In the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? It talks about a man and a woman whose names are Connie and also Arnold friend. Arnold is suppose ably Connie’s friend who seems to just be Connie’s conscious speaking to her to tell her to do the thinks that she does. In spite of the way that Connie tries to show the nearness of being a created woman who has learned about men, her involvement with Arnold reveals this is only an execution. She has
story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” both characters, Connie and Arnold, suffer from having dual identities. Connie is an individual who acts completely different outside her home, where she tries to portray an image of being sexually appealing. However, she is the complete opposite within her home, where she hides her sexuality and acts more like the adolescent she really is. Arnold is a mature man, something Connie is looking for in life and this intrigues her. Both characters have trouble
The dramatic irony of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” conveys the tone of warning about temptation. Connie’s situation is that she does not feel appreciated at home and uses her looks and actions to get attention and appreciation from boys even if it is short-term. She is self-conscious about her looks and is constantly worried about how other people perceive her. Friend’s fantasy is that Connie will willingly go with him and be his “lover” (605) even before he officially met her. The
She explores complex themes and characters that have rich descriptions and imagery. Her writing is very realistic and can create a powerful reading experience. Diving into the short story ‘Where are you going, Where have you been?’ Oates displays a teenage girl named Connie, who is tied between youth and adulthood. She encounters a mysterious guy, which leads to an eerie and tense situation. In the short story Where are you going, where have you been? Author Joyce Carol Oates conveys the characterization
Through its contrasting reality and dreamlike scenes, Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” uses details from a true American horror story to convey a message about society, youth and a loss of innocence. Arizona native Charles Schmid murdered Alleen Rowe on May 31, 1964. Schmid was considered a serial killer and was subsequently arrested and convicted of the heinous crimes that he was accused of. The profile of Schmid as a short man who wore makeup, wigs and altered boots to make
Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? In the short story, "Where are you going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie flaunts her beauty to receive attention from the opposite sex and is lead to temptation. The antagonist Arnold Friend, who symbolizes the devil, shows how simple it is to take away your safe haven through sinister acts. Connie is split between how she acts and portrays herself at home, and how she acts whenever she is with her group of friends. Connie refuses to
Psycho, Demon, Dreams, Oh My! “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a short story about a 15-year old girl named Connie that falls in the trap of Arnold Friend. There are many interpretations to this short story, and many arguments have fought back and forth to find out the true inside meaning to find out what the reason was for Joyce Carol Oates to write this story. There are hundreds of analyses for this story out there, but I am going to just be talking about three;
The Cultural Revolution and Sexual Desires in Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” The late 1950s was a time of cultural revolution which had a large influence on the American youth. “As the next decade drew near, issues such as civil rights, war, women 's rights, and the sexual revolution would deeply affect many American teenagers. The conservative family values and morals that predominated in the 1950s were just beginning to be challenged as the decade came to a close” (Moss and