Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been'
6.6 million people in the United States are stalked each year, one in six women and one in nineteen men have experienced stalking victimization during their lives at some point. In the story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates the main character, Connie, becomes a victim herself. Throughout the story, there are two main conflicts that arise for her, one of them having an extreme impact on her and the people around her. The first conflict Connie experiences is one between her and herself, which could’ve been brought on by her mother's attitude and behavior towards her. Connie is in a constant battle with her mother about the way she looks and how she behaves, often comparing Connie to her older sister. Her mother, once like Connie, realizes she is no longer the beauty she once was and takes it out on her daughter. Connie has a “highly charged relationship with her mother” which shows the reader “both her mother's attempt to control and protect her youngest daughter, and her feelings that Connie is developing into a younger version of herself” (Caldwell). Due to this continuous judgment towards Connie from her mother, Connie …show more content…
The man's’ name is Arthur Friend, his age isn’t said in the story but from his description, he’s much older than Connie. Arthur shows up to Connie’s house, knowing she’s home alone, harassing her to come out so they can take a drive. However, Connie rejects his offer continuously to which Arthur doesn’t take well and ends up threatening to kill her family if she doesn’t cooperate. Somehow Arthur knows Connie is home alone, as well as the whereabouts of her parents, and what they’re doing at that exact moment, all without Connie revealing any of this information to him. Due to his “uncanny knowledge of his victim,” Arthur can be a seen as “a devil, a satyr, and a psychic projection” (Ellis
Character Analysis Of Arnold Friend In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
1147 Words | 5 PagesArnold Friend’s sudden appearance in Connie’s life takes her from childhood to adulthood in the blink of an eye and she ultimately becomes a passive victim. Not many fifteen-year-old girls are considered mature at that age and Connie is certainly no exception to that. She is presented as quite vain in her views of herself and those around her. Her mother, once a beauty herself, is constantly nagging at her and telling her to stop gawking at herself in the mirror. Connie considers her older sister June to be somewhat of a spinster who is described as “plain and chunky” (Oates
Connie In Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'
169 Words | 1 PagesDuring the years of adolescence, an individual goes through a period of time which causes confusion and curiosity, where finding themselves is inevitable. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates takes the reader on an adventure of rebellion as the protagonist, Connie, sorts through a sketchy situation with her own self-experiences. Connie, through her confusion of life, creates a devilish nightmare that is a subconscious manifestation of her desires for attention from the opposite sex. The feeling of helplessness and loneliness is a major characteristic of a nightmare that seems to linger in Connie’s minds. Through her journey, she finds that she is a helpless heroin and cannot control the events occurring around her.
Connie's Insecurities
1092 Words | 5 Pages“She cried out, she cried for her mother, she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it were something Arnold Friend was stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness.” (Oates 8). This quote stated in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates shows the capture of Connie by Arnold Friend. Connie’s actions that lead up to her capture are mainly caused by her insecurities which are prevalent through these actions. Her deep-rooted insecurities influence her decisions, actions, and the way she appears to others, which ultimately leads up to the development of the story.
Review Of Oate's Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
746 Words | 3 PagesOate’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” examines a young girl that is caught up, in a religion of her own making leading to the worship of a false idol or image. As she approaches an age of not quite a woman but, yet not a child she faces many challenging choices. As she relies on her own form of religion she lacks the guidance to make moral decisions with any certainty. Arnold Friend enters her world and portrays himself as a friend and lover however, this seems to be a trap for the young girl. There are many signs that Connie is at a crossroads in her life and must choose a path to follow.
Connie In Joyce Carol Oates's The Metamorphosis
1417 Words | 6 PagesConnie in Joyce Carol Oates’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” desperately wants to be independent from her family, while Gregor Samsa in Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” pathetically yearns for inclusion. In this story, Oates pays special attention to the mother-daughter relationship and the lack of meaningful communication between them. Connie's mother is an image of the future Connie doesn't want – the life of a domestic housewife. Connie has a love-hate relationship with her mother, with whom she identifies, but at the same time she has to distance herself from her mother in order to establish her independence. On the other hand, The Metamorphosis, a story by Franz Kafka, is about a man who has been transformed into a giant beetle
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.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Symbolism
1120 Words | 5 Pages“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” In the short story written by Joyce Carol Oates “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, the main character is Connie. Connie is a typical fifteen year old, she acts older than she is and has a split personality when it comes to how she acts around certain people. In the story Connie's mother resents her because she was once pretty just like Connie.
Archetypes In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1428 Words | 6 PagesHome is where the heart is, but what if home is no longer safe? Joyce Carol Oates explores this concept in her 1966 short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. On surface level, this story appears to discuss a rebellious young girl named Connie and her confrontation with Arnold Friend, a stalker. The ending leaves the reader to assume that Arnold Friend plans to sexually assault the young girl.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character Analysis
969 Words | 4 PagesMaria Garcia Professor Galindo English 1302-NC8 6 November 2014 Where Did She Go, Where Was She Taken? “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by author Joyce Carol Oates and published in 1966. This short story is about a fifteen year old girl named Connie who experiments with her sexuality and because of that, she thinks of herself as a mature adult rather than a naïve little girl who still has a lot of growing up to do. She ends up catching the attention of a man by the name of Arnold Friend who is the epitome of creepy. He comes to her home knowing everything there is to know about Connie, and through his fierce manipulation and crafty ways he gets her to come with him, where it can be assumed that she is going to be raped,
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).
Analysis Of Connie In Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been
1415 Words | 6 Pages“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.” ( ).
Analysis Of Carol Joyce Oates Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?
1777 Words | 8 PagesCarol Joyce Oates’ “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” presents how falling into temptation leads to giving up control and innocence. Though her mother is unapproving of her actions, Connie spends her time seeking attention from male strangers. Home alone, Connie is approached by a compelling creature who convinces her to leave her life and join him on his unknown journey. Through disapproving her family, having multiple appearances, listening to music, and her desperation to receive attention from boys, Connie gives up control of herself losing the purity of adolescents and contributing to her detrimental fate. It is imperative that one should not be controlled because of a desire to impress others.
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 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.
Review Of Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been'
877 Words | 4 PagesThe Stranger In the beginning of “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been” Joyce Carol Oates reminds the reader of how carefree it is to be a teenager without any responsibility. One can quickly see that Connie is like many teenagers of today behaving to much like a grown woman. Connie appears to be growing up to fast before our eyes. She is in a stage of teenage rebellion, acting on things too fast.
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