Smooth Talk Theme
Film Review Essay - “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and Smooth Talk
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oates. The setting was in a suburban area in the 1960’s, America. The plot of the short story surrounds a teenage girl named Connie. Connie was going around the block experiencing the “Glories” of what a maturing teen girl could do, while at the same time having a poor relationship with her family. One day at a burger joint, she attracts a man named Arnold Friend who pursues her to her house. He threatens her when she's all alone and says if she does not come with him, he will burn her house down and hurt her family. The short story is crucial to read because it depicts how vile Arnold really is,
…show more content…
Released in 1986, starring Laura Dern as Connie. The book and movie are similar in representing Connie’s behavior and her relationship with her family. In the book, Connie was out and about often. When she was home, she was often condemned by her mom. This is accurate to the movie as well, though it could be argued that her mom was much worse in the movie. On a side note, her dad never made an appearance in the book, but was represented as a “goofball” in the movie.
Arnold Friend differed from the book in his representation of the film. In the book, Arnold Friend was much more threatening. He said many sexual things, that he was going to burn down their house if she did not come out and even threatened his family. In The movie he seemed little more than a sly, omniscient creep. Arnold did say he would break down the door, and hinted at a burning house but was not as blunt about it as in the book. He also did not state anything blatantly sexual. The ending of the movie was vastly different from the ending in the book. In the book it is assumed that Connie is taken to be raped and killed. In the movie, however, Connie comes back home after her car ride with Arnold. It is assumed he does something malicious with her, but he returns her home. She states that he never come back to her house. Connie goes back in and is more welcoming to her family, especially her
Arnold Friend Character Analysis
1137 Words | 5 PagesHowever, this is countered when Connie notes that “he was much older—thirty, maybe more” (315), a fact that frightens her. What Arnold is to Connie is a challenge of her want to be an adult, and a trail of her ability to deal with adult issue. Such as a man who singles her out sexual reason. Her wish to be an adult is something she seeks while passively avoiding it. Her avoidance is marked by day dreams of puppy love romance, like a typical teenager; yet, her attractive flaunt to be mature is presented as if she seeks to be an
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 Theme Analysis
1255 Words | 6 PagesWhen Connie realizes that Arnold is much older than she thought, she is taken over by fear of what’s going to happen. This situation is much different than anything else she has ever
Examples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
854 Words | 4 PagesHe mysteriously knows where Connie lives and invites himself to drive over to her house. Arnold assumes Connie’s friendship by convincing her that he knows everything and everybody, “I know your name and all about you” (Oates 201) when she never told him her name in the first place. He knew her friends, their names as well as what she did the night before. He also knew exactly where Connie’s family was, at a BBQ at Connie’s aunt Tille’s.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesWhile “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” may seem like your average “coming of age” story at
Aphorism: Similarities Between Book And Film
890 Words | 4 PagesThere are several distinct differences, as well as similarities, between the TWM book and the TWM movie. The main differences between the book and movie are Mitch and Janine’s relationship, the order and the location of the topics discussed, and Mitch’s job did not go on strike in the book. The main similarities are the aphorisms, the tape recorder, and the topics discussed. One main difference is Mitch and Janine’s relationship.
Connie's Cluess In The Story Of Arnold Friend
158 Words | 1 PagesArnold’s way of talking could possibly even have a sexual connotation that Connie does not pick up on because she’s young and oblivious to the world of sexual pleasures that Arnold lives in. Oates chooses words very carefully to show that Arnold is a devious snake. Connie sees Arnold many times as
Literary Devices In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
804 Words | 4 PagesIn her short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates utilizes a variety of literary devices to strengthen the story in its entirety. This short story is essentially about a 16-year-old girl named Connie and the conflict between her desire to be mature and her desire to remain an adolescent. Throughout the story, the audience sees this conflict through her words in addition to through her behavior. The audience is also introduced to Arnold Friend, a rather peculiar man, who essentially kidnaps her. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates functions and is additionally meaningful because of her usage of literary devices.
Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1203 Words | 5 PagesThe short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is about a teenage girl named Connie who is in the mist of her adolescent rebellion. She wants to prove her maturity to others and herself. In the story, Oates describes that Connie always lets her mind flow freely in between her daydream. She even creates and keeps dreaming about her ideal male figure in her mind to make her happy and satisfied. Oates allows the reader to step into Connie’s “dream world” through the appearance of Arnold Friend.
Differences Between Our America Book And Movie
640 Words | 3 PagesOur America is a book and a movie of the struggle in the Southside of Chicago. Even though, the main plot of the book and the movie was how two characters named Lealan and Lloyd find a way to broadcast their struggles in living in the Southside of Chicago. But, both the book and the movie have the main plot of Eric Morse’s death. Which happened in 1994, two boys Johnny and Tyrone threw a 5 year old boy named Eric out the window because they wanted him to steal candy and he didn’t and so Eric snitched on them. Our America: the book and the movie has similarities and differences such as the plot , character, and other things.
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).
Frankenstein Movie And Book Comparison Essay
486 Words | 2 PagesMary Shelly;s bookFrankentien is a well known piece of literature. Although it was controversial at its time, it has become a famous piece of literature ha even had had several movie made about it. While there have been a lot of movies produced, most of them do not follow the original plot. The 2004 hallmark version of Frankenstein follows the book relatively close, having a lot of things in common with the book, but, it also has a lot of differences. The movie adds more modern day elements, drama, and the possibility of a sequel while the book just tries to tell a story.
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: Analysis
460 Words | 2 PagesSmooth Talk is slightly based on Joyce Carol Oates’ story titled “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” but isn’t as straightforward and frankly gruesome. The story focuses on the 1960’s suburbia from a teenagers perspective. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” focuses on topics relevant in the 1960’s including the Sexual Revolution. Oates’ focuses on major issues and topics such as feminism, sexual freedom, and adolescent sexuality.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 PagesHe knew her name even though she had only quickly glimpsed at him the night prior with no communication from her at all. He knows where her parents are, what they are doing, how long they will be, how they look he even knows who her best friends are. Essentially Arnold Friend is the very essence of nightmare to Connie he is everything she is afraid of. He pressures her in to a situation out of her control. He takes away her pride of rejecting people and forces her to choose her family being hurt of facing her demons and going with him.
More about Smooth Talk Theme
Arnold Friend Character Analysis
1137 Words | 5 PagesAnalysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1181 Words | 5 PagesWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis
1255 Words | 6 PagesExamples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
854 Words | 4 PagesWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesAphorism: Similarities Between Book And Film
890 Words | 4 PagesConnie's Cluess In The Story Of Arnold Friend
158 Words | 1 PagesLiterary Devices In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
804 Words | 4 PagesAnalysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1203 Words | 5 PagesDifferences Between Our America Book And Movie
640 Words | 3 PagesWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been Psychological Analysis
657 Words | 3 PagesFrankenstein Movie And Book Comparison Essay
486 Words | 2 PagesCharacter Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
984 Words | 4 PagesWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been: Analysis
460 Words | 2 PagesWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 Pages