Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis Essay
Teenagers are in search of a path that will lead them to a successful future. Others prefer happiness. At some point in life, everyone faces vital decisions that influence the direction our lives take. The search to find ourselves produces the tragic outcomes. Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerberg, once said, " Having two identities for yourself is an example of a lack of integrity. " Integrity is the willingness to live by strong moral principles. Even though finding ourselves may hinder with our beliefs and standards, we create another character. In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? ” by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie's personality is divided into two. The Connie at home is entirely different from the Connie elsewhere. She handles dangerous situations differently, by allowing bad things to occur, oppose to most people who would fight for themselves. Connie's choice of life style and attitude shows her lack of morals. Connie constantly has conflicts with her family. She is beginning to break away from them. Because the mother is jealous, she likes to put Connie's self esteem down: " Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you're so pretty? " Her mother always tells her that she should be more like June, her older sister. June has a nine year …show more content…
Like most teenagers, Connie loses herself in the music. It can easily change the way she acts, thinks, or feels. Connie's guard goes down since Arnold and she are listening to the same artist, Bobby King. Arnold Friend's appearance was described as how, rock and roll star, Bob Dylan looked in the 1960s. He is described as having shaggy black hair and wearing sunglasses. Bobby King's music is rock and roll. Rock and roll promotes the idea of romance and sex. To lure Connie in, "He spoke in a simple lilting voice, exactly as if he were reciting the words to a song." Arnold used music and lyrical allusions as a part of his
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Connie Character Analysis
1325 Words | 6 PagesOates explains that “...her head [is] always filled with trashy daydreams”, which is Connie’s way of escaping to a different world (Oates 1). Connies daydreams help her leave the constant yelling of her mother and neglect from her family and escape to her perfect reality. With Arnold’s offer to leave her family behind, Connie is reluctant to say no because she wants this opportunity to escape her negligent family. Oates says “Connie [has] to hear [June being] praised all the time…” which makes her upset even though she is used to it (Oates 1). These situations make Connie a victim here because this offer is difficult for her to make considering her family life is not the best.
Analysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
607 Words | 3 PagesThe short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Is about a girl named Connie and her encounter with a strange man calling himself Arnold Friend. Connie is a young girl in high school who takes great pride in her looks. Her looks mean everything to her and gives her a sense of vanity. However, she does not have a good relationship with her family members.
Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1181 Words | 5 PagesThe short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by the author Joyce Carol Oates in 1966. Oates describes her idea for the story after briefly reading an article about the real-life murderer, Charles Schmid, who lured and murdered three teenage girls (Kirszner & Mandell 523). She uses this idea to create the character, Arnold Friend, and his victim, Connie. Connie is a typical teenage girl portrayed as naïve and self-centered. The short story appears realistic, given that the conflict in the story is based off of real events.
Archetypes In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1428 Words | 6 PagesAgain, the reader sees traditional values placed against changing times, reinforcing Connie’s internal struggle to define
Symbolism In 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'
700 Words | 3 PagesIn the coming of age story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to foreshadow fifteen-year-old Connie’s unfortunate, yet untimely fate. While one may think that the conflict stems from Connie’s promiscuity, it is clear to see her promiscuity is only a result to a much bigger conflict, her mother’s constant nagging and disapproval, alongside the lack of attention from her father. the author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl such as Connie goes elsewhere to find to find the love, attention, and approval that she lacks at home. All which is vital for her growth and wellbeing as a person.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis
1255 Words | 6 PagesFantasy V.S. Reality In some cases an individual can perceive something as the complete opposite of what it truly is. People create the illusion or the fantasy on what they believe something to be.
The Road To Winter Character Analysis Essay
826 Words | 4 PagesMark Smith the author of “The Road to Winter” displays that affliction brings out the very finest and least in people. The story is centred the main character Finn. He survived a deadly virus that wiped out his entire town and he has to adapt to a life by himself. Finn lost his family and friends and had to survive on his own. He learnt to kill animals, defend himself and a whole lot more.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesIn the story Connie loves music and it is the one thing she can “depend upon” (p. 36). Joyce Carol Oates starts the story by dedicating it to Bob Dylan and throughout the story there are many similarities shared between him and Arnold; they even shares physical similarities. In an article by Mike Tierce and Michael Crafton, they point out that both Arnold Friend and Bob Dylan have “shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig” (p. 40), “long hawk like nose” (p. 42), and he is “only an inch or two taller than Connie” (p. 42). They even compare Arnold Friend’s “fast, bright monotone voice” (p. 40) to Bob Dylan’s. It is quite possible for Arnold Friend to actually just be a representation of Bob Dylan and have nothing to do with being the devil.
External Conflicts In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, By Joyce Oates
1293 Words | 6 PagesEveryone everywhere struggles with conflicts on a daily basis. Some of these conflicts may be external conflicts as well as internal conflicts. Just like our lives, literature that is composed has a combination of these internal and external conflicts. These conflicts are as follows: individual versus individual, individual versus self, individual versus technology, individual versus society, and individual versus nature. Although, “What You Pawn I will Redeem,” by Sherman Alexie, and, “Where are You going, where have You Been,” by Joyce Oates have several different conflicts throughout both stories, in this paper I will focus on the internal conflicts of both of the fundamental characters, Jackson and Connie, and I will utilize different literary
Character Analysis Of Connie In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
590 Words | 3 PagesDue to Connie’s home life and her family not seeing her for herself, Connie looks for attention and affection in
Literary Devices In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
804 Words | 4 PagesIn her short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates utilizes a variety of literary devices to strengthen the story in its entirety. This short story is essentially about a 16-year-old girl named Connie and the conflict between her desire to be mature and her desire to remain an adolescent. Throughout the story, the audience sees this conflict through her words in addition to through her behavior. The audience is also introduced to Arnold Friend, a rather peculiar man, who essentially kidnaps her. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates functions and is additionally meaningful because of her usage of literary devices.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Psychological Analysis
657 Words | 3 PagesThe short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates can be interpreted in a multitude of ways due to its ambiguity. A psychological lens, however, provides the most accurate viewpoint for analyzing the story as it clarifies certain obscure scenes and actions of Connie. One psychological issue of Connie that is easily inferred from the beginning of the story is her insecurity about her looks. Connie constantly worries about the way that she looks and takes any opportunity to do so, “craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people's faces to make sure her own was all right” (1).
Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
984 Words | 4 Pages“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” is about a teenager named Connie who is trying to come to terms with her transformation from childhood to adulthood. Through this process, Connie attempts to act older than she is an tries to gain the attention of boys. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Oates portrays Connie as obsessed with men to symbolize how one’s obsession and narcissistic attitude can cause danger to seem surreal. In the short story, Carol Oates describes Connie as having two different personalities, one being a narcissistic attitude.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been: Analysis
460 Words | 2 PagesSmooth Talk is slightly based on Joyce Carol Oates’ story titled “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” but isn’t as straightforward and frankly gruesome. The story focuses on the 1960’s suburbia from a teenagers perspective. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” focuses on topics relevant in the 1960’s including the Sexual Revolution. Oates’ focuses on major issues and topics such as feminism, sexual freedom, and adolescent sexuality.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 PagesIn Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” the main protagonist finds herself in a very hostile situation. With an all most fateful encounter with a man known as Arnold Friend. Forcing her to choose whether to run off with him or taking her by force. This man known as Arnold Friend to the reader comes off as almost a demon. A person who uses many temptations, word play, and threats to take advantage of the young protagonist Connie.
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