Oates's Short Story 'Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?'
In Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?”, symbolism is an extremely vital part of understanding the story’s true meaning. In my opinion, the names of the characters, major and minor, are all important. Some are somewhat subtle and some are begging to be recognized. The short story doesn’t give us much background on the characters; so their names tell the rest of their story. First off, Connie, the main character, has a very subtle, and somewhat controversial, hidden meaning. From my perspective, Oates named her Connie due to the fact that she always conjures up something. When she’s at home, she often conjures up conflict concerning her mom and sister. She does not do her chores, unlike her perfect sister, who always does her’s; she gawks at herself in the mirror, much to her mother’s disapproval; and she is filled with “trashy daydreams” that have done wonders to corrupt her mind. One can assume that the so-called “trashy daydreams” are about boys, which brings up the next topic. From what the story has told us, we know that Connie has no trouble at all in finding sleazy young men. Connie, it seems, manages to conjure something up inside them. I believe that Connie is desperate for human contact and …show more content…
Connie seems to be very lost and lonely; the perfect target for the devil. In this story, the devil takes form as an attractive man by the name of Arnold Friend. He first spots her while she’s out on a date and he inaudibly tells her “Gonna get you, baby.” Connie tries to act as if she isn’t interested, but she clearly is. Arnold knows that she will be an easy target to corrupt and to pass his evil agenda along to. When Arnold shows up to her house, she fixes her hair; she’s on a date with the devil. Connie can’t help but to succumb to his desires due to her lack of support from her family; her hunger for being needed; and her lust for
Character Analysis Of Connie In Smooth Talk
596 Words | 3 PagesEven after Connie and Arnold had an encounter, Connie did not pay much attention to it. Even though she was very naïve, the blame is still on the sick minded people in this world who in this case is represented by
Arnold Friend Symbolism
1005 Words | 5 PagesHe knows that if he can convince her with certain aspects of the plan, she will be more likely to go with him. If she The plot also reveals that Arnold wants Connie physically. Joan Easterly says, “The devil is usually presented as interested in possessing human souls” (Easterly). Arnold Friend will not leave without Connie in the car with him. He desires her physical body, and to take her away to somewhere that they are alone.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Internal Events
691 Words | 3 PagesThroughout the story Joyce Carol Oates give the reader insight into the thoughts of the main character, Connie. From her daydreams of the perfect boy “…sweet, gentle, the way it was in movies and promised in songs…”, (Oates 492)to her racing heart and mind at the realization of who Arnold friend really is “at this knowledge her heart began to pound faster. ”(Oates 496). These internal events feel external in that the reader feels as though they are watching Connie’s thought process; as if she were transparent and the reader is just a curious passerby.
Review Of Short Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'
1107 Words | 5 PagesThe reason why Connie lies to her parents about where she is going to spend time with her friend is because she wants to be having fun going out to places and act older. By her going out makes her feel like she finally has freedom and living the life how she think she is supposed to
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
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Comparison
1203 Words | 5 PagesIn “The Flowers”, Alice Walker explores the woods through the eyes of a little girl named Myop, but she soon realizes the world isn’t as nice as flowers. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Joyce Carol Oates follows a young girl named Connie who is focused on others and her own appearance, until she is introduced to the world in a unexpected way. Both Walker and Oates use young girls to show the harsher sides of the world and how their childhood changes to adulthood in different ways. The main thing that Myop and Connie have in common is that they are both females, but their looks and the way the live are totally different.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis
1255 Words | 6 PagesConnie 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
Examples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
854 Words | 4 PagesArnold Friend’s Biblical Allusions In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates tells a story of a young, innocent teenage girl, Connie who enjoys listening to music and begins exploring her sexuality and being with boys “the way it was in the movies and promised in songs” (Oates 198). In fact she catches the attention of Arnold Friend one night while at the mall meeting up with a boy. Not knowing he would appear in her life, Arnold strangely shows up at her house assuming they made plans to get together. His character is seen as the devil.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesIt is quite possible that Connie has just invented Arnold Friend based on her love of music, at one point in the story it seems like Connie is falling asleep while listening to XYZ Sunday Jamboree and all of the sudden Arnold Friend shows up coincidently listening to the same thing. Instead of saying Arnold Friend knows Connie’s name and many things about her because he is the devil, you could say that Arnold Friend knows all of that because he is described as
Analysis Of Joyce Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
847 Words | 4 PagesJoyce Oates carefully crafted the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” using parallelism, allegories, symbolism, and the theme of vulnerability. Joyce lived a modest life with her parents and two siblings in Lockport New York. According to an article on Biography.com entitled “Joyce Carol Oates,” she always loved reading, and even before she could write, she would tell stories through the use of pictures. Her secondary schooling began after securing a scholarship from Syracuse University because of an article she had written for her school newspaper.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Analysis
817 Words | 4 PagesThis clairvoyance also points to the fact that he may be a demonic creature. Connie never actually tells Arnold her name but he somehow already knows it. The last detail that points to Arnold being a demonic being is his mind control over Connie. For some reason she is unable to dial for the police.
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.” ( ).
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 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.
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).
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