Figurative Language In Where Have You Been Where Are You Going

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"Where Have You Been, Where Are You Going?" is composed by Joyce Carol Oates which is where a young female who can't help herself, so she hits a watershed. She is narcissistic and fixated on young men. Young Connie starts to distance herself from her family and becomes deeply involved with Arnold Friend. Arnold keeps a close eye on Connie inside her house and gradually gets to know how she goes about her day. Arnold soothsays her, which makes Connie lose sight of herself and launch into a disconnected state of mind as she begins to appear to be trapped in her own heft. Because it focused on Connie and her everyday suburban life rather than Arnold, the antagonist, Oates's story was truly mind-boggling. Connie's interpretations of fantasy and …show more content…

In addition, he appeared to have a familiar face: He hadn't shaved in several days; As a result, his cheeks, chin, and jaw were slightly darker. "It was all a joke, but his long, hawk-like nose smelled like she was a treat he was going to eat." (6) A hawk is a bird of prey, so Arnold's desire for Connie as a snack is implied. We get the impression that Oates is referring to animals when he uses the word "sniffing." As the story progresses, Connie does nothing about his predatory nature. Connie lives in a world where men enjoy exploiting women, so she doesn't see much of it. Connie respects Arnold's savage and forceful attitude as typical. Connie's house is like a cardboard box in the story. "In this location, inside your father's house, I can smash down any cardboard box." (13) Arnold says that Connie will no longer be safe in her home, and he threatens her. In this story, Connie's house is a symbol of family and tradition. Arnold continues to threaten her by stating that he will destroy her home and memories. This flimsy cardboard box represents the increasing unreliability and unpredictability of her life. Through imagery, Oates depicts Connie's daydreams. Connie is a young woman who wants to have a sexual relationship. The concept of love that is not confined to a single individual fascinates her. Through the use of imagery, the author facilitates the audience's …show more content…

For instance, Arnold Friend has a style that is similar to that of famous people like Elvis Presley and James Dean. He has slick hair and tight clothing. Ellie, Arnold's friend, uses a handheld transistor radio to listen to the radio, which serves as yet another illustration. These handheld transistors saw their first sale in the middle of the 1950s. Additionally, the driving restaurants, movie theaters, shopping malls, and ranch-style homes exude the 1950s and 1960s charm. Teenagers 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. Instead of setting the story in a public place like a shopping mall or driving range, Oates chose to set the majority of the story at Connie's house. Oates