Folktales In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Ms. Johnson didn't have an education, yet she knew the value of the quilts and she didn’t let a few words from Dee change her decision of giving the quilts to Maggie. Dee leaves her mother’s house quite upset and tells her sister, “You ought to try to make something of yourself, too, Maggie. It’s really a new day for us. But from the way you and Mama still live you’d never know it” (Walker 12).

However, unlike a good handful of psychopaths and murderers, Cathy’s monstrosity did not evolve through a rough childhood. She was an only child, and it can be assumed that her parents fed her and loved her properly. After Cathy was found with her hands bound together in rope and two boys kneeling down, they were punished and sent to “a house of correction” (77). Cathy’s mother had been in hysterics when she found her daughter, while Mr. Ames had his own reservations about the ordeal which he kept to himself. Mr. Ames was always skeptical of his daughter, but he never said anything.

(Pg. 59, 3rd paragraph) Also, she doesn’t give up and overcome obstacles. Even though Alyce runs away because she failed to help Emma Blunt give birth, she regains her confidence when the rich merchant’s wife was laboring at the inn. In the book, it states, “Alyce backed out of the cottage, then turned and ran up the path to the road, she didn’t know why or where. Behind her in that cottage was disappointment and failure.

After being an orphan, Cosette, was raised by Valjean by the demand of her mother. Valjean both helps and hinders Cosette as she blossoms into an adult. Although Valjean raised Cosette to be a respectful and caring young lady, Valjean does not let Cosette go out and see what the entire world has to offer. By shielding Cosette from society, Valjean equally helps and hinders her in many different ways in her adult life. Valjean does not ever give Cosette any time for herself.

Connie is constantly compared to her old sister June. For example, her mother says, “Why don't you keep your room clean like your sister? How’ve you've got your hair fixed-what the hell it stinks? Hair Spray?

She is a “motherless child from the day she [is] born” (67), and Stobrod abandons her at a young age. She is forced to grow up early and provide for herself in order to survive, which is contrary to characters in commercial fiction who do not face real life issues like this. Ruby’s childhood and adult life are harsh realities and are not sugar coated. Ruby never mentions her father to Ada and chooses to bottle up her past instead. Ada is shocked as Ruby says, “My daddy.

In the beginning of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Joyce Carol Oates describes fifteen year old Connie as being self absorbed and narcissistic. This is based of her belief that her looks are everything. At first connie is a very static character, her attitude does not change and she does not take interest in anything that could change her attitude towards her beliefs. As the story goes on, Connie experiences changes that do change her attitude towards her family, and beliefs. “Connie would raise her eyebrows at these familiar old complaints and look right through her mother, into a shadowy vision of herself as she was right at that moment: she knew she was pretty and that was everything.”

Within both short stories, the protagonists’ elders dictate their home life. Charlotte’s mother, an imposing figure that hates disorder and embodies perfectionism, prevents her daughter from developing a personality at home. In Charlotte’s household “ [complaining] is weak, [rejoicing] is childish, [laughing] is noisy. And moving around raises dust” (Wilson, 184). Similarly in The Bicycle, in Hannah’s entire day revolves around the schedule that her Tante Rose implements.

In the novel, Scout is a tomboy and because she does not have a mother as she is dead so she doesn’t really have any female influence growing up. Scout looks up to Jem and wants to be like him. One day, Jem says, “I declare to the Lord you’re gettin’ more like a girl every day!”(69). Scout is outraged by this and takes the word as an insult. Also, in Maycomb females should be wearing dresses and acting lady-like, nevertheless Scout likes to wear overalls and play with Jem and Dill which can be seen as very un-ladylike.

In the middle of Betty’s fit, she starts to shout that “[she] wants her mama”(19). Betty’s mother passes away when she is young, so her father is in charge of raising her. She is growing up without a female role model, so she is already at a disadvantage. The three characteristics of being young, motherless, and a girl shows she is the complete opposite of the typical powerful figures of this time. She continues to maintain to gain power when she openly disagrees with Abigail, who none of the other girls are willing to argue with.

First in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” the guiding figures are present, but they do not care, which leads to Connie’s death. Connie’s parents did not pay her any attention. Her mom was jealous of her as stated in the short story, “Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think your pretty?”

Some included devotion, education opportunity, to be abstinent and to escape their lives at home. In the book Marissa knew she would never marry because she walked with a limp and was not beautiful enough, so she asked to be taken to the convent. She explains to Will her reasoning, “‘I am just the kind of spare girl who moulders away and everybody’s relieved when they die. Even if you give me a dowery, who’s going to marry me? I’ve got no land

Hairs The vinett, Hairs, reveals a lot about Esperanza and her family. It reveals that Esperanza is rebellious and disobedient,“It [Esperanza’s hair] never obeys barrettes or bands”. Papa’s hair is “like a broom”, which reveals that he is not useful for much, except basic household chores.

Harper Lee does a great job at making me feel sympathetic for Mayella because of her lack of education and the life she has been to. “Long’s he keeps on calling‘ me ma’am an sayin’ Miss Mayella. I don’t hafta take his sass, I ain’t called upon to take it.” She lives in this horrible place where she has never been called ma 'am.

Lastly, In the story her husband never lets her talk about house she feels, so she keeps it all bottled up in her head which eventually drives her crazy. As “The Yellow Wallpaper” States “It 's hard to talk to john about my case, because he loves me so. But I tried to last night” (777 Gilman). This show another great example of women cruelty because back then women were not allowed to state there own opinion and also