Joyce Carol Oates Essays

Joyce Carol Oates was born in 1938, she was raised on her grandparent’s farm. As of her childhood, she has said, “...was dull, ordinary, nothing most people would be interested in…”. Oates went to Syracuse University on a scholarship and graduated valedictorian of her class; later she pursued her masters degree in English at the University of Wisconsin, where she met her first husband. She has gone on to teach creative writing at Princeton and has taught at the University of Detroit. In February

In the story "Where Is Here?" by Joyce Carol Oates, she has a specific way of plotting the events. Oates tells us the certain time and place the story takes place. She tells us the order of the events in the story, for a certain reason. Oates wouldn't have ordered the story in this certain manner if there wasn't a reason. In the beginning of the story Oates tells us it's dinner time in November. This means it's most likely dusk outside and chilly. When the stranger knocks on the door it sets a mysterious

closeness with others or to cope with the lack of a relationship. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie, the main character, does not have a good relationship with her family. T.C Boyle’s “The Fugitive” features a young man named Marciano, who feels isolated from society due to his race and a disease he carries. The narrator of “Araby” by James Joyce is a young man who craves sexual intimacy with a girl pledged to become a nun, and is nearly driven mad with

Manipulation is one of a psychopaths’ favorite things to do because that is how they get what they want. In a story by Joyce Carol Oates, Oates created a character by the name of Arnold Friend whom is a psychopath. After the departure of Connie’s family, Arnold drove up to her house with the intention of taking her for a ride even though she did not know him. Though Connie (15-year-old

In Joyce Carol Oates “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”she paints the picture of a teenage girl whose mother is jealous of her, father is absent, and sister is twenty-four and lives at home. Connie is a fifteen year old girl who sneaks around with her friends, is a bit boy crazy and is very much a daydreaming teenager. The beginning of the story starts off rather innocently, then through a series of hints scattered throughout the story, takes a turn for the worse when Connie’s eyes are opened

Another character is Connie’s mother. Connie and her mother argue and bicker on a regular basis. She seems to be constantly getting after Connie "Stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you’re so pretty?” (Oates 308). Suggesting that she envies Connie because she is young and beautiful. She too was beautiful once in her own way, but as the years passed so did her beauty. Despite their differences Connie loves her mother and in the end she screams and cries out for her when she is attacked

In the story WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? By Joyce Carol Oates is an impeccable story. The story is so vivid and wildly written it takes you into a whole new world. When I first started reading this my whole mind when into a deep thought. I visualized myself there during every event that occurred. This is story is a definite easy read the imagery that is placed into this story is the best one yet. The theme of the story is what catches you and entitles you to continue reading. This story

fifteen year old girl. She is obsessed with her appearance, does not get along with her family and develops emotional issues towards the end of the story. At the end of the story, she becomes an adult when she is face to face with the enemy. Joyce Carol Oates developed this character and story after listening to Bob Dylan's song called It's All Over Now Baby Blue. Connie has long dark blonde hair that people were drawn to. When she went out, she pulled some of her hair up and left the rest lying

Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” leads the reader to believe both Connie and Arnold Friend battle with their identity. As Oates begins the story, she introduces Connie as “shallow and vapid” (Slimp); more obsessed with herself to notice the real world around her. Connie had a tendency to look “one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home” (Oates 1), showing the reader she was two sided. Connie’s need to change her identity based on her location

as a dream. Connie, in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” encounters this experience, and falls victim to danger. Connie’s conscience will place her in a dream to help her see the threat that will be coming her way if she does not stop. Connie is a fifteen year old girl filled with insecurities, and depends on others’ reactions to her to make

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates dives deep in the realm of suspense and the psychological mind. The story revolves around Connie who can best be described as the stereotypical teenage girl who’s shallow mind focuses on her appearance and her male counterparts. The tone of the story starts off light-hearted depicting Connie’s halcyon days of summer adolescence. However the tone shifts dramatically to a more mystical and suspenseful element when a man named Arnold Friend

The 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 midst 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

In the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates Connie's mother was very jealous of her looks. Her 15-year-old daughter knew she was beautiful, and she loved her looks. Always looks at herself in mirrors and admires her looks. Her mother was always shaming her for it. Saying that she doesn't have to look at herself that much. This sounds very envious considering her mother is no longer young and beautiful she takes it out on her daughter. She'd go after things like 'Why

Carol 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

someone new. Sigmund Freud's "The Uncanny" expresses his development of how something is 'uncanny'. Author Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,?” contains components of the uncanny. This short story involves a character named, Arnold Friend who can be pursued as uncanny because he can be comprehended as someone who has been remained hidden but then has come to light. Oates passage helps understand Freud's concepts of what the uncanny is through familiar and unfamiliar descriptions

one may not understand the consequences of an action, or realize that it has a positive or negative effect on the present and future of their lives. The cause of an action can tell why it has a specific effect. For instance, a short story by Joyce Carol Oates titled, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is very interesting and allows you to make inferences based on the information given. One can evaluate from the material given the causes and effects of certain situations. This story is about

"Soon as you touch the phone I don't need to keep my promise and can come inside. You won't want that” (Oates 7). This is an excerpt from the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” This story is from Joyce Carol Oates, written about a 15-year-old girl, Connie, and Arnold Friend whom this paper is about. From what the reader can determine from the text, Arnold Friend is a man that has been stalking Connie, for a while now. Not only is he a stalker, but he also alters his appearance

Was Connie a victim of Arnold alone or a victim of sexism that led to her fate? We will never know what was going through Connie's head at the time, but I believe she was the victim of Arnold alone. In the story by Joyce Carol Oates " Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Connie is a confused little girl who is basically going through puberty and has no other choice but to surrender to Arnold to save her family. Does Connie feel like she has no choice because she was never loved, does her insecurity

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

fictional writings can often seem to be ambiguous to the reader, which is why settings are helpful in fictional writings. A well-developed setting often is able to grab the reader’s attention and keep them interested through out the story. In Joyce carol Oates fictional story “where are you going where have you been” the