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Theme Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

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Exploring the Themes in Joyce Carol Oates's Classic Story
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is a well-known short story. It was written by Joyce Carol Oates and published in 1966. After listening to “It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" by Bob Dylan, the author decided to write this story. According to the LitChart study website, the story was inspired by Charles Schmid and his kind of serial killer murder in Tucson, Arizona. Oates's story follows Connie, a 15-year-old girl who is struggling to define herself and assert her independence from her family. When she encounters Arnold Friend, a dangerous and evil figure, her journey takes a dark and terrifying turn. The author can more effectively communicate themes and life lessons by deftly …show more content…

From the beginning, a tone of disappointment and oppressiveness covered the story. Connie always has to deal with criticism from her mother, ignorance from her father, and comparison with her sister. The author gives the readers a tone of suffocation and struggles from within her own house and how her family members treat her. As the story progresses, the author is changing his tone from oppressive to suspenseful and anxious. At this time, Connie's meeting with Arnold Friend is taking place. His behavior and words became erratic and unpredictable. Sometimes, he was very sweet to Connie, but at some moments, he also threatened to kill her family. Therefore, it gives the readers a feeling of anxiety similar to the main character and they can not help but wonder what his real intentions are. As the story climaxes, the tone grows increasingly helpless and desperate as Connie realizes it is too late for her to run away from the demon, Arnold. The ending of the story is especially effective in setting the tone. The ambiguous ending of the story makes the readers feel both creepy and ominous, and this will help them think more after reading the story. The tone in Oates' story contributes to a mysterious, tense, and fearful atmosphere that makes the readers feel insecure and scared. The author's tone is cleverly developed throughout the text and this allows the author to make the readers feel the same way when Connie has to deal with those

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Character Analysis Of Arnold Friend In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

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The short story “Where Are you Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates brings a dark transition of a child to an adult. Connie, the main character, is a young girl with all the care-free worries of someone her age. She day-dreams about romance and love through the popular songs on the radio, spends evenings with friends at the local shopping mall and dive diner, and flirts with boys. Like many girls her age, Connie seems to sleep-walk through life, dancing to a tune that only she can hear or understand. But this is cut away when she meets a stranger named Arnold Friend.

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Is Killing Someone Justified In The Intruder By Andre Dubus

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This was evident when Connie's parents left her in charge of Kenneth and the house while they were gone on a night out on the town. No one knew that later that night Kenneth would end up shooting Connie's boyfriend after believing that he was “a prowler” (Dubus 457). Though this story's ending was unexpected, surprising, and confusing throughout the read I also felt an underlying feeling of wordiness. Our feelings toward a piece of work can make or break our experience.

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Connie's Id By Arnold Friend

815 Words | 4 Pages

The latter prevalent throughout Joyce Carol Oates’ short story: “Where Are You Going, Where

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Archetypes In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

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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.

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Summary Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

498 Words | 2 Pages

The story Where Are You Going, Where have you Been, is about a fifteen year old young lady named Connie. She was seen at home as a youthful adolescent who went around "ogling" at herself. When she was out with friends she attempted to keep up a full grown and hot personality. Her mother was extremely judgmental of her. Continually contrasting Connie with her more seasoned sister June, suggesting that she was less mindful than June.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

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In the beginning, Oates creates a false sense of security. She is at home and Connie seems safe, this is what makes what happens next unexpected. After this, a strange man rolls up to Connie's home, and Connie is only worried about how she looks, not her safety. This makes you wonder what is going to happen, and if their is a reason she is scared. Then, the pace of the story completely changes when Arnold Friend starts to approach Connie and say things that make her feel uneasy.

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Dual Nature Of Connie

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Dean Plude Instructor: Mr. Nelson Sims EH 102 — Written English II April 12, 2023 The Dual Nature of Connie in Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" In Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Connie represents the duality of adolescence, grappling with her desire for independence and the consequences of her vulnerability, which ultimately leads to her uncertain fate.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis Essay

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Joyce Carol Oates’ story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” includes several aspects that could easily be analyzed and interpreted in different ways. One of the most important and perhaps more obvious aspects is Oates’ character Connie. Connie’s home life, safe place, and epiphany moment are all key components to understanding the story and its meaning. Connie’s home life is the first angle that is important to the story. Fifteen- year- old Connie is a rebellious teen who does not get along with her family.

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Summary Of Short Story 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'

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If you are old enough to remember, you can think back to the memories of when you are a kid and understand the memories as a child are the best memories that you have in your life; yet eventually you mature into ann adult. Like the book, Catcher in the Rye, the short story Where Are You Going Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oats is about Connie, an adolescent girl, wanting to stay in her child-like life and not mature into a adult. Fortunately, Connie has some help coming into the adult world with the manifestation of a person named Arnold Friend and Ellie.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis

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Connie uses her attitude and appearance to attract boys. But she is not aware of the reality of the society in which she lives. Connie is living in a fantasy world, but when she gets trapped by Arnold Friend she is put into a scary reality. There

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

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Oates’s biography explained her fiction writing as a mixture violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely fits the plot point of this story with both of her literary ingredients being present in not only Arnold Friend but in Connie as well. The Protagonist Connie is presented in a very self-centered way. She is obsessed with her looks and often fantasizes about all the boys she meets.

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

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“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.” ( ).

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Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

1203 Words | 5 Pages

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 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.

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Where Did You Go Where Have You Been Analysis

1570 Words | 7 Pages

Connie’s place in the story and how she operates within the confines of the narrative. One of the greater facets of the narrative lies in the power of sexual desire, mostly resonating in youth. This provides the precedent for the rest of the story. Being a story rooted in deep

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The Theme Of Ignorance In Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Been?'

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That also made her become more vulnerable to the real dangers and the evilness that exists in the world. That danger was represented by an old man who pretends to be an eighteen year old boy that seduced and kidnaped Connie. The end of the story Joyce Carol Oates leaves it open to the readers, because that way it makes the reader think of what might have happened, whether she got raped or whether she is killed, after the main character leaves with the antagonist of the story. Oates shows that ignorance, narcissism and the lack of

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