ipl-logo

External Conflicts In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, By Joyce Oates

1293 Words6 Pages

Everyone everywhere struggles with conflicts on a daily basis. Some of these conflicts may be external conflicts as well as internal conflicts. Just like our lives, literature that is composed has a combination of these internal and external conflicts. These conflicts are as follows: individual versus individual, individual versus self, individual versus technology, individual versus society, and individual versus nature. Although, “What You Pawn I will Redeem,” by Sherman Alexie, and, “Where are You going, where have You Been,” by Joyce Oates have several different conflicts throughout both stories, in this paper I will focus on the internal conflicts of both of the fundamental characters, Jackson and Connie, and I will utilize different literary …show more content…

Jackson just knows that this is his deceased grandmother’s regalia that someone stole fifty years ago. He recounts the pawnbroker the story behind the regalia and how much it would mean to him to have it back. However, the pawnbroker needed conformation that the regalia belonged to Jackson’s family. Jackson told him about the misplaced bead that was in the armpit of the regalia. The author used to bead as a metaphor for Jacksons not so perfect life. The pawnbroker told Jackson if he could come up with the money he could buy back the regalia. However, Jackson struggles with keeping the money he earns because of his alcoholism. The contention in this story is comparative to the story “Where are You Going, where have you been.” Both of these stories show an internal conflict. In this story, Connie is an egotistical fifteen-year-old girl that believes that her vanity is going to get her on a road to autonomy and away from her family. Connie will go to great lengths to be wanted and loved. She wants nothing more than to be accepted by everyone. This is made evident when the author states, “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home: her walk, which could be childlike and bobbing, or languid enough to make anyone think she was

Show More
Related

Examples Of Internal And External Conflict In Walk Two Moon

895 Words | 4 Pages

Internal and External Character Conflicts In Walk Two Moons “ I am not brave, I am not good “( 103 ). Throughout the novel Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech , Sal faces conflicts that will allow her to grow as a person. Sal was in the middle of all the conflict. Sal, through meeting new characters mostly experienced internal conflict, but also saw some external when going on the adventure road trip with Gram and Gramps.

Read More

The Theme Of Conflict In 'Swimming Upstream' By Joseph Boyden

616 Words | 3 Pages

Dealing with conflict is a constant struggle in many people’s everyday life. In the two texts, “Swimming Upstream” by Beth Brant and The Orenda by Joseph Boyden, two characters are shown to experience conflict within society. Christophe, from The Orenda is a charismatic Jesuit missionary devoting his life to convert the Huron, while Anna May is a homosexual in an unaccepting society. Besides their daily endurance with injustice, they also deal with the internal struggle of guilt. Both Christophe and Anna May are trapped within their own guilt as they blame themselves for the death of those around them.

Read More

Comparing Bluest Eye And A Separate Peace

1573 Words | 7 Pages

Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, and John Knowles’ A Separate Peace share the idea of inner conflict and develop it within the main characters. Inner conflict is presented to the main characters in different forms; these forms pertain to the theme of their respective novels. The effect of the conflict on the characters escalates as the novels progress; the effect is also shown in the characters actions. Although inner conflict differs among each character, the cause of the conflict remains the same: the environment in which the characters reside.

Read More

Thanksgiving A Personal History Summary

423 Words | 2 Pages

Every character in a story has conflicts that are revealed through their actions and thoughts. Internal conflicts are struggles within a character’s mind, while external conflicts are composed of struggles that a character faces from an outside, conflicting force. Internal and external conflicts are inevitable and are present in every story. In the text “Thanksgiving: A Personal History” by Jennifer New, the author is struggling with an internal conflict of understanding the value of Thanksgiving.

Read More

An Analysis Of Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'

596 Words | 3 Pages

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates Psychoanalytic Criticism Question How are id, ego and superego represented in “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” By Joyce Carol Oates?

Read More

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Analysis

817 Words | 4 Pages

In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Connie is a fifteen-year-old girl, who does not necessarily get along with her family. During the week, she often times goes to a shopping plaza with some of her friends. However, they sneak across the highway to go to a popular diner where the older crowd hangs out at. At home, Connie is often times arguing with her family. One day her family is invited to her aunt's barbecue but Connie refuses to go.

Read More

Archetypes In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

1428 Words | 6 Pages

Home is where the heart is, but what if home is no longer safe? Joyce Carol Oates explores this concept in her 1966 short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. On surface level, this story appears to discuss a rebellious young girl named Connie and her confrontation with Arnold Friend, a stalker. The ending leaves the reader to assume that Arnold Friend plans to sexually assault the young girl.

Read More

Analysis Of Connie In Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

1415 Words | 6 Pages

“But now her looks were gone and that was why she was always after Connie.” (Oates ). Also, there is another opportunity for friendship within the family, between Connie and her sister, however, that is lost in their rivalry and hostility. “Her sister was so plain and chunky and steady that Connie had to hear her praised all the time – by her mother and her mother's sisters.” ( ).

Read More

The Theme Of Conflict In Lamb To The Slaughter

1084 Words | 5 Pages

Isabella Lopez Ms. Altamirano English 9 12 March 2023 Conflict George Washington once said “ the harder the conflict the greater the triumph”Conflicts are different arguments or disagreements that other people have. People get into conflict because of different opinions. Conflict is important because it lets us listen to other people's opinions. Stories have conflict to make the story interesting, and to teach others a lesson. There are seven types of conflict but the two that we see the most in stories is; person vs. person is an argument between two other people, and person vs. self is an internal struggle.

Read More

Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

984 Words | 4 Pages

Connie’s first encounter with Friend was at a diner when he stated to Connie, “Gonna get you, baby”(pg.1142). Because Connie was use to this type of attention, she did not view it as strange that an older man was calling her in such away. However, if Connie had seen Friend as dangerous instead of just another man, her kidnapping might have been prevented. Later in the story when Friend showed up as Connie’s house, she walked outside and talked to him instead of questioning how he knew where she lived or calling the police. Oates described Connie's interaction with Friend by stating,“Connie liked the way he was dressed, which was the way all of them dressed: tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed how lean he was, and a white pullover shirt that was a little soiled and showed the hard muscles of his arms and shoulders”(pg.1145).

Read More

The Cause Of Conflict In Raymond Carver's Cathedral

1358 Words | 6 Pages

Conflict is the essence of any literary fiction. The main goal of an author is to tell a story that keeps the reader interested. At the story’s core, conflict is the momentum of happening and change and is crucial on all levels for delivering information and building characterization as well as building the story itself.   Conflict is the source of change that engages a reader and keeps them interested. In a story, conflict and action does what description and telling of feelings and situations do not.

Read More

Literary Devices In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

804 Words | 4 Pages

In 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.

Read More

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

700 Words | 3 Pages

In the coming of age story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to foreshadow fifteen-year-old Connie’s unfortunate, yet untimely fate. While one may think that the conflict stems from Connie’s promiscuity, it is clear to see her promiscuity is only a result to a much bigger conflict, her mother’s constant nagging and disapproval, alongside the lack of attention from her father. the author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl such as Connie goes elsewhere to find to find the love, attention, and approval that she lacks at home. All which is vital for her growth and wellbeing as a person.

Read More

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis

1255 Words | 6 Pages

I believe that in the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” false perception V.S. reality is seen. The main theme in this short story is the conflict between fantasy and reality. One of the main characters in this short story is Connie. She tries very hard to create an adult persona.

Read More

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Psychological Analysis

657 Words | 3 Pages

Connie does this because she needs to be reassured that she is in fact pretty. On top of this, Connie acknowledges that her beauty is “everything”(1). This statement implies that if perhaps Connie was not beautiful, she would have nothing. Furthermore, when Arnold Friend pulls up at Connie’s house, her heart begins to pound not because there is a stranger at her door, but because she is “wondering how bad she looked”(2). Even when faced with possible danger,

Read More

More about External Conflicts In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, By Joyce Oates

Related Topics

Open Document