Connie the fifteen-year-old protagonist who spends much of her time going out with friends and meeting boys. Connie and her mother do not get along. They disagree about almost everything. Connie does not get attention she desires from her family. She is greatly mistreated by her family. Connie’s mother wants her to be more like her sister. Connie by not feeling wanted in her family search for love somewhere else. Connie’s mother and busy father is wrong for not loving their daughter how they should because if they did she wouldn’t/t be looking for love somewhere else. I think she wishes her mother was death because her mother doesn’t stop comparing her to her sister.
She sees the boys who give her attention as subjugations who “dissolve into a single face that was not even a face but an idea” (Oates 675). But soon enough her dreams and music materialize into the shape of Arnold Friend. Arnold Friend is described as a muscular, older, and mysterious character. He seems to be a work of her imagination as he is ultimately an idea she created that would fit into her perfect fantasy world. Connie is defenseless to Arnold Friend’s manipulations mainly because she has no visible identity of her own.
Connie is self-centered; preoccupied with her looks to attract boys. She despises her parents and wishes that she could escape from her family. Freedom and men are what she desires most but sadly sometimes people are not careful for what they wish for. Arnold Friend is an evil and physical
However, this is countered when Connie notes that “he was much older—thirty, maybe more” (315), a fact that frightens her. What Arnold is to Connie is a challenge of her want to be an adult, and a trail of her ability to deal with adult issue. Such as a man who singles her out sexual reason. Her wish to be an adult is something she seeks while passively avoiding it. Her avoidance is marked by day dreams of puppy love romance, like a typical teenager; yet, her attractive flaunt to be mature is presented as if she seeks to be an
“Star Food” Symbolic Analysis “What is my purpose in life? Who should I take advice from and who should I not?” If you have asked yourself these questions, congratulations, you are human! Every human since the dawn of time has reflected on these questions. In the short story “Star Food” by Ethan Canin, the main character, Dade, finds himself asking these questions after a recent shoplifting development in his parent’s grocery store, A middle-aged woman stole small bits of food from the store, like a stale loaf of bread and artificial pineapple juice.
That also made her become more vulnerable to the real dangers and the evilness that exists in the world. That danger was represented by an old man who pretends to be an eighteen year old boy that seduced and kidnaped Connie. The end of the story Joyce Carol Oates leaves it open to the readers, because that way it makes the reader think of what might have happened, whether she got raped or whether she is killed, after the main character leaves with the antagonist of the story. Oates shows that ignorance, narcissism and the lack of
In 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.
Connie uses her attitude and appearance to attract boys. But she is not aware of the reality of the society in which she lives. Connie is living in a fantasy world, but when she gets trapped by Arnold Friend she is put into a scary reality. There
She listens to love songs and follows modern pop culture believing that she can command the attention of the boys with her style. She only draws herself closer to sexuality and becoming an adult. Characterization is brought out in Connie and Arnold. Connie is a naïve teenage girl who is conscious about her looks, making her an easy target for antagonists such as Arnold. Arnold is over twenty and is attracted to the weakness of Connie, which brings out the reality about him against Connie’s Fantasy (Oates 3) the literal device of symbolism is used in the short story wherein the walkaway to Eddie’s
Due to hormones, teenagers are moody and may even lash out at their parents when their parents try to control them. This is the same situation for Connie, even as a girl in the 60s. She wanted to be an
In the story, Connie enjoys going out with her friends. They were dropped off at a local shopping plaza, but they run across a highway to a drive-in movie where the older kids hang out and meet a guy. They end up talking for hours. Which was one of the best nights of Connie's life. She really enjoyed the time spent.
Character sketch of Turtle Wexler Turtle Wexler is a thirteen years old girl with a half ponytail. She doesn’t let anyone touches her hair, because it’s very precious to her. Turtle doesn’t really get along with her family, and no one in her family cares about her. She had to sleep in a dark closet, when everyone else has a big and wide bedroom.
“But now her looks were gone and that was why she was always after Connie.” (Oates ). Also, there is another opportunity for friendship within the family, between Connie and her sister, however, that is lost in their rivalry and hostility. “Her sister was so plain and chunky and steady that Connie had to hear her praised all the time – by her mother and her mother's sisters.” ( ).
Apparent in the beginning stages of the short story, Connie despises her sister, June, for the glory she receives for being the reliable child. She hates her mother for liking her sister more than her,
In 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.
That is the main reason why Connie wants to leave with the first person who asks her to do so. From him she feels the attention that likes very much and does not receive from her family members. She does not feel supported by anyone in the family; everyone only criticizes her, tells her that her own sister is much