Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Devices
Joyce Carol Oates created a short story called, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been to portray the power of logical, emotional, and ethical appeals over people. She helps illustrate these appeals by using the character Arnold's friend to try to lure a girl named Connie. Arnold’s friend helps portray the power of logical appeals by showing that he is someone to be trusted because he creates statements that promise that she will be safe with him. Connie is a very vain and self-centered girl searching for social acceptance. She uses her attractiveness to get the attention of all the boys which makes her feel mature and wanted, but in Arnold’s eyes, she makes for an easy target of manipulation. This meeting makes her realize that she is not …show more content…
It shows her curiosity about the different sexual awakenings faced by women in the 1960s, and the influence she got from Bob Dylan's music. Foreshadowing is a literary device in which an author provides an advance hint of what may happen later in the story. This literary device can occur at the beginning of a tale allowing the reader to formulate their own expectations of future events. Carol Oates brings out the fantasy versus reality theme, where Connie is shown to try being a mature woman that has a range of experiences with men. However, her encounter with Arnold shows how she presents herself with clothing, general behaviors, and hairstyle is a poor performance (Oates 1). She listens to love songs and follows modern pop culture believing that she can command the attention of the boys with her style. She only draws herself closer to sexuality and becoming an adult. Characterization is brought out in Connie and Arnold. Connie is a naïve teenage girl who is conscious about her looks, making her an easy target for antagonists such as Arnold. Arnold is over twenty and is attracted to the weakness of Connie, which brings out the reality about him against Connie’s Fantasy (Oates 3) the literal device of symbolism is used in the short story wherein the walkaway to Eddie’s …show more content…
In particular, Oates uses religious symbolism in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” to distinctly present the friction between illusion and reality. The protagonist views shopping malls and drive-in restaurants as religious places; thus, the author implies their church-like appearance. For example, Connie and her friends refer to the location as a “sacred building” (Oates 1). The fact that popular places are portrayed as religious symbols emphasizes the false display of their greatness. Girls find being there valuable, as a weekly church service that cannot be skipped, while, in reality, shopping malls are not designed to be as important to people. Therefore, the fake narrative that enforces the idea that popular culture is the most significant aspect of teenage life is represented through its grotesque religiosity. Additionally, the symbolism of youth revealed through the antagonist’s actions represents false assumptions about adolescence. For instance, Arnold’s wig and his fake tan create a false narrative of what being young is; on the contrary, Connie’s inexperience is a more accurate depiction. Overall, Oates’s symbols reinforce the message presented in the story that some life elements are not what they
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Analysis Essay
545 Words | 3 PagesTextual Analysis of the Tension(s) In the Story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates Introduction The story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates is a prime example of the conflict between youth and experience since it pits Connie's naivete against the seductive yet dangerous Arnold Friend. Connie's need for direction from an older person and her yearning for independence is put into conflict by Joyce Carol Oates.
Figurative Language In Where Have You Been Where Are You Going
1583 Words | 7 PagesTeenagers tend to isolate themselves from their parents at this time, have more time and money for leisure activities and conformity, and have more money to spend. The short story suggests that adolescents' sexuality and violence were influenced by wealthy and celebrity-obsessed American culture. Because most of the short story is written in Connie's third person, other characters remain unidentified and mysterious. Additionally, the narrator can deviate significantly from the actual events and describe them in a manner that is more general and allegorical by using the third person to tell the story. Connie, who was just 15 years old at the time, is without a doubt a part of the culture and is influenced by everything.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary
983 Words | 4 Pages“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, written by Joyce Carol Oates, is a short story that takes place in a 1960’s American suburb where tight jeans and slicked back hair is the popular style. The story takes place around a young fifteen year old girl, Connie, who has family issues and enjoys going out with her friends whether it be to the mall, movies, or drive-in restaurant. At the restaurant, Connie is noticed by a man with an odd car who later finds her alone at her house and seductively forces her to come with him and leave her family. This short story demonstrates an allegory. While on the surface it seems to be just a story of a vain girl who is “voluntarily abducted”, it actually represents the temptation of death (Oats 1).
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary
909 Words | 4 PagesA Dangerously Eloquent Conversion The short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, focuses on the life of a fifteen year old girl, Connie. Connie is described as an outgoing and happy girl, who is a typical teenager and is obsessed about her looks. One night, Connie accidently encounters a stranger, Arnold Friend.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character Analysis
1258 Words | 6 PagesJoyce Carol Oates’s 1966 short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been has proven to give rise to many controversial topics. The main antagonist of the story, Arnold Friend, is Oates’s catalyst for these problems, with his character acting as the embodiment of a larger power. Most critics see Friend as a dark entity, often the devil himself. Joyce Wegs claims that “[Arnold] is not simply crazy but a criminal with plans to rape and probably murder Connie” (Wegs n.p.). Marie Urbanski argues that “[Friend’s] features appear … ominous [, as he has] slitted eyes ‘like chips of broken glass’ … ”
Analysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
607 Words | 3 PagesThe short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Is about a girl named Connie and her encounter with a strange man calling himself Arnold Friend. Connie is a young girl in high school who takes great pride in her looks. Her looks mean everything to her and gives her a sense of vanity. However, she does not have a good relationship with her family members.
Analysis Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
692 Words | 3 PagesHis statement demonstrates a clear sense of ownership over Connie, as he objectifies her as his date and not a woman with the ability to make her own decisions. This highlights the patriarchal ideology of such men, who cannot see women as able to make their own decisions, rather as objects for a man to satisfy himself. Arnold’s manipulation techniques are also shown in display when he uses terms such as ‘lover’ and ‘honey’. By doing so, Arnold tries to force an emotional connection between the two, as if he calls Connie these terms of endearment, she has no choice but to believe she is his ‘lover’, ultimately giving Arnold the power trip and dominance he searches for within Connie. To conclude, as one reads the short story Where are you Going, Where Have you
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.
Examples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
854 Words | 4 PagesHe tries to seduce and persuade her to go with him for a ride similar to how the Devil lured Eve with a shiny and mysterious apple. Oates displays evidence of biblical allusions regarding Arnold Friend’s appearance and persona in the story by depicting his physical characteristics, his supernatural knowledge, and his demeanor as an image of evil. Connie wants to be desired for her sexuality and Arnold possesses this by his tone throughout the story. His appearance comes
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.
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 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 Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 PagesIn Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” the main protagonist finds herself in a very hostile situation. With an all most fateful encounter with a man known as Arnold Friend. Forcing her to choose whether to run off with him or taking her by force. This man known as Arnold Friend to the reader comes off as almost a demon. A person who uses many temptations, word play, and threats to take advantage of the young protagonist Connie.
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