Symbolism In 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'

Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk” (308). The constant comparison and remarks are what drives Connie to be different from June, pushing and enabling her rebellion. Connie’s mother’s constant negative approach, and clear favoritism of June pushed Connie to seek out not only love and acceptance from others but made her wish death to her and her mother. “…Connies’ mother kept picking at her until

Bryson goes on to joke about Presley’s audience being much like his fame, the elderly being the only guests in the house. Nevertheless Bryson claimed to be glad that he stopped, the upcoming City of Columbus was next. Unfortunately for us all Bryson has to comment on during the drive is the endless rows of shacks lining the highway all the way to Columbus. Shortly afterwards he observed that the poor population had several signs along the way, advertising “Gas, Fireworks,Fried Chicken,Live Bait”. Bryson attempts to add humour to the situation, by joking about some or other restaurant that dealt with live bait as

Have you ever just been so fed up with life and just wanted to give up so that you won't have to deal with your problems anymore? Life just seems to be overwhelming. In the book Lessons Learned, I can connect and relate to the main character. I see similar hardships that the character and I have been through. In the novel, Keyshia goes through several problems such as not seeing eye to eye with her mother, being abandoned by her mom throughout her whole 15 years and not knowing her dad until the age 16, and her younger brother Mike being with a dangerous girl.

Arnold Friend, the antagonist in Joyce Carol Oates’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” represents the devil who arrives to bring Connie to the underworld. For example, his unusual appearance implies that he is an inhuman being, unlike what he wants to lead on. As he struggles to walk from his car to the front door, Connie notes that “his whole face was a mask...tanned down to his throat...as if he had..makeup on..but had forgotten about his throat”(5). Arnold Friend covers his demonic features in order to pass as a teenager with the intention of deceiving Connie into leaving with him. Disguising himself is a method he uses to ensure the she won’t immediately turn him down, but would at least consider his advances to get her

I don’t know what role Ellie plays in the story, but someone who came with the radio/music. Music is being played in her house, in the car, and at the restaurant. When Oates, the author, was writing the story, she had Bob Dylan’s song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” in mind. Towards the end, Arnold mentions a girl with blue eyes, yet Connie’s eyes are brown, which makes you think if he has some sort of mental issue. We don’t know what happened to Connie at the end, but someone who is in his 40’s thinking she’s someone else can’t be a good thing.

Music is the most significant of symbols in Oates short story to the point that it is dedicated to Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan was a popular singer of the 1960’s and many of his songs spoke out in favor of the civil rights movement and anti-war movement, perhaps Oates felt inspired by his work when she created this story. Considered a window to the soul, music plays a large role as the backdrop of the story. Throughout the entire story, the type of music and the songs playing are listed such as at the dinner and Bobby King’s radio station playing in Arnold Friend’s car. These types of music are conflicting as the music in the dinner is described as “background music like music at a church service” and the station in Arnold’s car is “hard, fast, shrieking songs” (pg 1056-1058).

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,

Through the path of life there are obstacles that are often hidden by one's facades. In Leaving Gilead by Pat Carr, a novella taken place during the civil war, Geneva Birdsong is the mother to her eight year old Saranell, and wife of Colonel Birdsong. Because of Geneva's unwise decisions, she is unable to be a wife and mother, which leaves the Birdsong's slave, Renny to raise Saranell. Because of her circumstances, Geneva is unable to accept reality. If one allows it, the mistakes made in the past can impact their entire life including relationships and overall happiness.

Wilson said Myrtle ran out to speak to the man in the car and he wouldn't stop. Wilson heads over to the West Egg and goes to Gatsby's house where he kills Gatsby and then himself. Police and detectives go to Gatsby's house to investigate and they declare Wilson a "madman." Catherine says that Myrtle never saw Gatsby and that she was happy with Wilson. Nick feels responsible for answering the inquiries about Gatsby.

A Look at “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Have you ever been in a situation that you were afraid you wouldn’t get out of? In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Carol Oates tells about a young girl who encounters a strange man and is afraid that she will never see her family again. The story is about a fifteen year old girl named Connie who is being harassed by an older man named Arnold Friend. She is obsessed with her own physical appearance, while her older sister, June, is the opposite. Connie’s mom always criticizes her for being so egotistical and wants Connie to be more like her sister.