Compare And Contrast Winter Dreams And Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

Back in the 20th century woman did not have many rights. Men were the providers and woman were the homemakers. They were often seen as beautiful objects. Some stories that can conclude that are “Winter Dreams” by F Scott Fitzgerald and also “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates. “Winter Dreams” is mainly about a man, named Dexter and a woman named, Judy. Dexter starts off by working at a golf course, but he really wants to be like the rich people, that go to his golf course. It is there that he meets Judy and associates her with the rich. He then makes a goal to win her over and also to become wealthy. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is similar because the man, Arnold is trying to win over a girl, named

Both Judy and Connie are described as beautiful, sweet and charming. In both the stories they are drooled upon by many men. In the beginning of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Connie is approached by a boy that goes to her high school and being the rude person that she is, she ignores him. She even states that she feels good about ignoring him. Then not much longer, she is approached by another young man, named Eddie. He wants to take her out for dinner. This time though she does not decline. While she on the date with Eddie, another guy with shaggy black hair stares at her and then his lips widen into a grin. We learn later that his grin was much more than a friendly smile, he really liked her too much. The next day, while she is home alone that same boy with the shaggy black hair shows up. His name is Arnold. Keep in mind that she never exchanged any words with him before. The reason he went out of his way to talk with her is because of her attractiveness. He says to her “I took special interest in you, such a pretty girl.” (Oates 218) In “Winter Dreams” Connie experiences the same attention. Dexter writes a sizable paragraph about her “arrestingly” beauty. Everything about her is stunning. So of course, men are going to want her. Throughout the story it talks about how she reacts to these men and it seems she enjoys the admiration. “The narrator speculates that because of having so many men courting her, Judy has learned "in self-defense" to "nourish herself wholly from within," entertained by "the gratification of her desires and the direct exercise of her own charm."(Becnel) The reason this is thought is because she speaks about how she has loved different men. After her first date with Dexter she tells him that she is upset because she cared about a man and found out that he is poor. Then she states “I’ve been mad about loads of poor men, and fully intended to marry