Joyce Carol Oates Interpretation
Oates created what today is considered a modern classic, with her draws to music, mythology, and modern culture, at that time, 60s. In this direction; summary, analysis and breakdowns of the inspirations and reasons she used, including a interpretation of their meaning(s). Joyce Carol Oates’ story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is about a young girl. Like most teenagers, she sneaks around, goes to drive-ins, meets boys. In the story Oates writes, “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home.” (Oates 1) A naive, rebellious, along with a flippant attitude with her mother. Oates draws heavily on mythology to build the story’ core. Comparing Connie to Persephone helps the reader understand the characters place, and who Arnold Friend really is. In the myth of Persephone, she is kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld. Hades agreed to let her go, but before he gave her back he feed her a pomegranate, making her always be with Hades. Connie represents the gullible Persephone, and Friend is Hades. On the other hand, Oates gives Friend more sinister qualities. She give a more modern interpretation of the devil. Some clues to Friend’s true identity include: his hair; in the story it is …show more content…
The lyrics reveal similar ideas and phrases, found in the story like: “the sky too is folding under you” echoes Connie’s legs are weak as Arnold takes her out the door. Friend refers to himself as Connie’s lover, similar to a line in the song “your lover who just walked out the door.”, “The vagabond who’s rapping at your door”. “Strike another match, go start a new” Friend is indicating that when he burns the house down, she will run into his arms. At the end of the story, Friend says to Connie, “ My sweet little blue-eyed girl.” (Oates 9), a reference to “baby blue”. Oates, however, writes that Connie’s eyes are
Figurative Language In Where Have You Been Where Are You Going
1583 Words | 7 PagesBecause it focused on Connie and her everyday suburban life rather than Arnold, the antagonist, Oates's story was truly mind-boggling. Connie's interpretations of fantasy and
Arnold Friend Character Analysis Essay
874 Words | 4 PagesJoyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is the story of a girl named Connie. Connie may be the protagonist, but she is not a symbolic character as much as a typical teen-aged girl in the middle of the twentieth century. On the other hand, there is Arnold Friend, the antagonist, who is so full of symbolism that he is nothing but an allegorical figure. There are different interpretations of what, or who, exactly Arnold Friend symbolizes.
Arnold Friend Theme
413 Words | 2 PagesIn the story, Arnold Friend is a kind of this type of person and has come to take Connie away, and ultimately powerless to disobey him. At one point, Connie observes that Arnold’s voice sounds like the voice of the radio DJ, Bobby King. The DJ’s first name is a link to Dylan’s first name, and the DJ’s involvement in the music world evokes Dylan’s. Oates’s recalling feeling of Bob Dylan is purposeful, adding the power to the story. Oates 's short story also speaks to the song culture that was Dylan 's, which had much influence on teens.
Summary Of Short Story 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'
224 Words | 1 PagesIf you are old enough to remember, you can think back to the memories of when you are a kid and understand the memories as a child are the best memories that you have in your life; yet eventually you mature into ann adult. Like the book, Catcher in the Rye, the short story Where Are You Going Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oats is about Connie, an adolescent girl, wanting to stay in her child-like life and not mature into a adult. Fortunately, Connie has some help coming into the adult world with the manifestation of a person named Arnold Friend and Ellie.
Hades Persuasive Speech
138 Words | 1 PagesHades tricked Persephone into going to the Underworld with a beautiful flower that was near by a waterfall. Her and her friends were out picking flowers and she went somewhere else to pick flowers. She spotted it,and then she ran to pick it before anyone else could. As she reached out her hands gently to grab the beautiful flower the opened up. The waterfall and the earth opened up and a strange person came out of the earth.
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 Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesIn Joyce Carol Oates fictional short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the majority of the story lies beneath the surface. More specifically than just the story, you realize that there is more to the character Arnold Friend than what may appear. The author has always remained silent and ambiguous about the real meaning of Arnold Friend’s true nature and she leaves room for the readers to make their own interpretation of him. Readers can analyze Arnold Friend and see him as the devil, he could just be the personification of popular music imagined by Connie in a dream, but Arnold Friend could also be the result of drug use.
Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1203 Words | 5 PagesThroughout the story, there are many instances: the illogical time and settings, the similarity between Arnold and Connie and the unrealistic events show that the meeting between Connie and Arnold Friend is a dream. The dream is also a preparation for Connie before she steps onto the stage of being an adult. Connie’s dream begins when she refuses to go to her aunt’s house for barbecue party. She stays home, and under the warmness of the sun, she begins her day dreaming about love and the boy she has met the night before. In the beginning, the author writes “Connie sat with her eyes closed in the sun…”
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 PagesOates states, “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home: her walk that could be childlike and bobbing, or languid enough
An Analysis Of Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'
596 Words | 3 PagesConnie was unable to see the men's true personality until they removed their glasses, which like Connie, a person who has multiple sides. They use similar expressions throughout the story, for example, “Christ” and the use of the word “dope” this further links the two characters personalities. At the end of the story, after Arthur stops Connie from calling the police, she willingly joins the two men. This shows Connie ignoring her superego- calling the police- to succumb to her id (8, 9). Connie once asks, “how come we never saw you before?” to which Arthur replies, “Sure you saw me before… You just don’t remember” these lines also illustrate the tendency for a person to repress their ultimate desires (5).
Messages And Themes In Flannery O Connor's Short Stories
965 Words | 4 PagesWhen reading a few of Flannery O’Connor’s stories, one cannot help but make a connection with her intensive stories and those of a television show. Both take mostly everyday people and exaggerate them into an absurd nature. Her stories and television shows use shock factors to draw in readers and viewers, respectively. While television shows tend to vary in themes and messages, Flannery O’Connor’s short stories tend to be focused on a few limited messages and themes. Television shows are mostly mindless channels of entertainment, Flannery O’Connor uses her characters not only to entertain, but to also cause readers to reflect inward and think.
Persephone Informative Speech
566 Words | 3 PagesShe soon became the queen of the underworld. Hades abducted Persephone. She was collecting flowers in the Vale of Nysa when Hades came up and seized her to the underworld. Persephone ate a single pomegranate seed in the underworld. She then had to stay two-fourths of the year with her husband.
Representational Art: Hades And Persephone By Sandra
334 Words | 2 PagesPersephone. The myth starts off when Hades Visits earth and sees Persephone for the first time. From the moment he sees her, he knows he wants her. To pursue his wants, he returns
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