Connie's Insecurities
“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. Connie’s deep-rooted insecurities are directly related to her anxious tendencies. Her consistent worrying about how others perceive …show more content…
Connie is insecure and hyper-aware of herself and how others perceive her. Considering the fact that Connie is unhappy about aspects of herself, she judges other people to make herself feel better. According to Oates, “They would lean together to whisper and laugh secretly if someone passed who amused or interested them.” (Oates 1). This passage reveals Connie’s judgemental nature. Most people who don’t have an inferiority complex wouldn’t feel the need to ridicule others. Oates also states, “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 own was all right.” (Oates 1). This passage demonstrates that Connie’s insecurities cause her to consistently give herself reassurance about the way she looks by checking other people’s faces. She is actively comparing herself to these other people to give herself validation. Considering the fact that Connie actively puts others down to build herself up, Connie is experiencing deep-rooted insecurities that affect the way she treats …show more content…
Her anxious trait reveals her social anxiousness and anxiety about how others perceive her, her habit of jumping to conclusions reveals that her insecurities lead to her making negative assumptions about others, and her judge-mental trait causes her to put others down to build herself up as a result of her insecurities, and the self-absorption that she possesses is used as a way to give herself reassurance about her insecurities. These traits are made apparent throughout the story to build up to Connie’s ultimate capture by Arnold in the end, as her obsession with making herself look desirable to others led to her attracting Arnold, which later led to him showing up at her house and being manipulative towards her. This was Oates's intention as without Connie’s insecurities affecting her actions, the story wouldn’t have developed in this
Joyce Carol Oates 'The Man Who Was Almost A Man'
1444 Words | 6 PagesHer mother and she have tension and her father rarely sees her, he works and sleeps “Stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you’re so pretty” (Oates page 4). Connie mostly keeps up with her own personal life more than
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Psychological Manipulation Essay
909 Words | 4 PagesConnie’s parents are made up of a not so caring father and a judgmental mother: “Their father was away at work most of the time and when he came home he wanted supper and he read the newspaper at supper and after supper he went to bed. He didn't bother talking much to them, but around his bent head Connie's mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over.” (Oates 1). Here the author explains the father's actions when he arrives home. Connie’s father does not pay attention to her nor her sister, June.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis Essay
670 Words | 3 PagesConnie'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?
Victimization In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
765 Words | 4 PagesEarlier in the story, it is noted the guy has been seen glancing peeks and attempting to strike up a conversation with Connie. In this section, Oates is showing the outcome of an intentional action planned by predators altering their appearance to capture their prey. It analyzes masculinity and hostility. At first, Connie is enticed by the mysterious men who appear at her doorstep. Arnold, being older, captivates Connie’s teenage heart so that he will sweep her off the ground away from her sickening family.
Theme Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1511 Words | 7 PagesFrom the beginning, a tone of disappointment and oppressiveness covered the story. Connie always has to deal with criticism from her mother, ignorance from her father, and comparison with her sister. The author gives the readers a tone of suffocation and struggles from within her own house and how her family members treat her. As the story progresses, the author is changing his tone from oppressive to suspenseful and anxious. At this time, Connie's meeting with Arnold Friend is taking place.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character
890 Words | 4 PagesArnold Friend was there to take Connie away; away from her childhood and home, which never quite felt like home until her fantasy world deteriorated and reality set it. The next moment is pivotal, this is when Connie forgets her hedonism and becomes something of much more substance. Before Connie studies Arnold Friend’s abnormal personality and erratic behavior she is fascinated by him and even worries that she is ill prepared for this
Character Analysis Of Arnold Friend In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'
1038 Words | 5 PagesIn the beginning, he planned on visiting Connie when he knew that she was going to be alone. He introduces himself as Arnold Friend stating to Connie that he will become “your friend” (Oates 203). Throughout the conversation, Arnold would strategically announce that he knew where her parents and sister were and “how long they’re going to be gone” (Oates 204). However, he will intertwine threats such as “ But if you don’t come out we’re gonna wait till your people come home and then they’re all going to get it”, placing Connie in a very stressful situation (Oates 208).
Dual Nature Of Connie
525 Words | 3 PagesShe revels in the attention she receives from boys, seeking validation and romantic experiences. For example, she sneaks off with her friend to the local drive-in restaurant where she engages in flirtatious interactions with boys (Oates 3). This behavior reflects her need for independence and her wish to break free from the constraints of her family life. However, Connie's innocence and naivety leave her vulnerable to manipulation.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary
552 Words | 3 PagesIt is no secret that most teenage girls desire attention especially that of an older guy, which is something Arnold Friend seeks to take advantage of. While Connie is skeptical of Arnold’s intent, his sense of familiarity draws her to him and he is able to persuade her to let her guard down. Oates conveys this when she writes, “Connie liked the way he was dressed, which was the way all of them dressed…” (4) Another example of how Oates indicates that Arnold’s interest in Connie excites her is when she writes how Connie “remembered him even better…and her cheeks warmed…--how she must have looked to him. And he had remembered her.” (4) At first, Arnold tries to charm Connie in an attempt to get her to leave with him, but she reluctantly declines the invitation.
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.” ( ).
Symbolism In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
747 Words | 3 PagesConnie is a fifteen-year-old who is trying to make the best of her life by seeking attention from others. Having the attention, she wants makes her feel superior, and make her feel like no one can tear down her ego. The only one trying to tear down her ego is her mother who wants her to be like her older sister June who is the opposite of Connie. She is mature and even helps the family out. For Connie to be taught a lesson of her conceded qualities, she encounters meet Arnold.
Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
984 Words | 4 PagesConnie’s first encounter with Friend was at a diner when he stated to Connie, “Gonna get you, baby”(pg.1142). Because Connie was use to this type of attention, she did not view it as strange that an older man was calling her in such away. However, if Connie had seen Friend as dangerous instead of just another man, her kidnapping might have been prevented. Later in the story when Friend showed up as Connie’s house, she walked outside and talked to him instead of questioning how he knew where she lived or calling the police. Oates described Connie's interaction with Friend by stating,“Connie liked the way he was dressed, which was the way all of them dressed: tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed how lean he was, and a white pullover shirt that was a little soiled and showed the hard muscles of his arms and shoulders”(pg.1145).
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Victim Analysis
955 Words | 4 PagesConnie: The Victim To A Demon The “heroine” of the short story Where Are You Going Where Have You Been written by Joyce Carol Oates has been interpreted in many different ways by many different authors across the globe. They all have their own opinions on why Connie had left her home and walked into the arms of Arnold Friend. Larry Rain makes the argument that Connie was a noble heroine that “chooses the side with the devil [to save her family]” (Rain Gale).
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 PagesOates’s biography explained her fiction writing as a mixture violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely fits the plot point of this story with both of her literary ingredients being present in not only Arnold Friend but in Connie as well. The Protagonist Connie is presented in a very self-centered way. She is obsessed with her looks and often fantasizes about all the boys she meets.
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