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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis Essay

698 Words3 Pages

Being born into a patriarchal society as a female means that every woman already has their role decided for the before they can even decide for themselves. In a society that views women as objects that are either domesticated or sexualized, it pits women against each other, forcing them to choose which category they would rather be placed in. This idea is illustrated in short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, where even adolescents aren’t safe from becoming sexualized. By analyzing the relationships Connie has with the individuals in her family and how those bonds shape her values and affect her growth and development as a character, audiences are able to identify the detrimental effects harmful ideas such …show more content…

The beginning of the story illustrates Connie as a shallow and vapid young teen, placing an immense amount of value on her looks and ability to attract the attention of those around her. Near the end of the story, during her encounter with Arnold Friend and his companion, Ellie Oscar, the author expresses Connie’s nervousness by describing that, “her heart was almost too big now for her chest and its pumping made sweat break out all over her” (Oates). Connie is no longer comfortable with the attention and realizes that the looks that she once valued so greatly, likely brought danger to both herself and those around her. The dichotomy between Connie in the beginning of the short story and Connie near the end of the story is subtly foreshadowed when it mentions that, “ everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home” (Oates). By the end of the short story, the audience is able to identify the two new sides of Connie. The first one that cherished her own visual appearance and disregarded consequences and the second one that actually weighed out the results of the choices she made/will

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

1553 Words | 7 Pages

An article by Marie Mitchell Olesen Urbanski, “Existential Allegory: Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’” analyzes this helpless nature of Connie as a result of Arnold’s alluring tactics. However, many readers may indeed question why she reacted in such an incapable and naive manner, resulting ultimately in her abduction. Although her state of shock is sudden, her response is an accurate and natural depiction of the bewildering state she was put in under these tactics. From the start of the story, we get insight into

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

1435 Words | 6 Pages

Through these interactions, Oates illustrates how societal norms shape women's perceptions of themselves and their roles within society, ultimately influencing their interactions with men like Arnold. Oates shows how Connie and Arnold's interactions reflect the influence of society, highlighting how cultural values shape their behavior and relationships. Connie's obsession with physical appearance, a trait ingrained in her by societal expectations, is evident throughout the story. Connie’s characterization “stems from a rigid belief in physical beauty” as she’s characterized as a teenager who is looking to look her best and impress everyone around her (Korb). This fixation on appearance is echoed in Connie's thoughts as “she knew she was pretty and that was everything” (Oates 1016).

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

842 Words | 4 Pages

Lauren Ziegler Prof. J. Campbell English 111-09 28 February 2018 The Plot Twist Around the Bend* "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates and "Encounters with Unexpected Animals" by Bret Anthony Johnston are short stories that describe events where the characters in compromising situations. They showed how one's outlook on life can be altered once a conflict or threat is presented. While both authors appeared to have this in common, their methods allowed for two different approaches. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" takes a focus on the main protagonist, Connie.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

663 Words | 3 Pages

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, the author, Joyce Carol Oates, uses a multitude of archetypes. The word choice she uses emphasizes a Coming of Age, The Rebel, and The Bully. The main character, Connie, was a young, lost girl who thought she had everything figured out. Connie suddenly gets a rude awakening and learns that ignorance along with good looks will have its downfalls.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

170 Words | 1 Pages

“Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?”  was written by the author, Joyce Carol Oates, the protagonist in the story is a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl named Connie who feels she can not live up to her mother's expectations and feels that her mother mistreats her. Connie wishes her mom and herself were dead, to end the torment she feels. It seems that Connie doesn't have a fatherly figure in her life, her father works long hours and is barely home, and when he is home he buries his head into the newspaper.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character

890 Words | 4 Pages

Arnold Friend was there to take Connie away; away from her childhood and home, which never quite felt like home until her fantasy world deteriorated and reality set it. The next moment is pivotal, this is when Connie forgets her hedonism and becomes something of much more substance. Before Connie studies Arnold Friend’s abnormal personality and erratic behavior she is fascinated by him and even worries that she is ill prepared for this

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Like Water For Chocolate Gender Roles

1314 Words | 6 Pages

A strong independent woman who takes initiative and makes her own decisions, Rosaura displays none of these traits which, in

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Analysis Essay

704 Words | 3 Pages

The way Connie dressed attracted Arnold Friend, a much older guy that is bad news. He also said to Connie that he was her lover, in which the way she presented herself as a mature woman, could have made Arnold Friend think that Connie already knew what comes with being an adult. Connie’s appearance of trying to look older shows her immaturity of what being a mature adult really consist

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Joyce Carol Oates Use Of Foreshadow

321 Words | 2 Pages

Joyce Carol Oates uses physical characterization to foreshadow early on what truly is going to happen to Connie. Arnold is hiding things about his physical appearance. No matter what Connie says or does, Arnold keeps talking, and yet he reveals nothing about himself. He never physically asks Connie to join him, but his words have the same force and pull as the actions he only threatens to take. "Soon

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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.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

694 Words | 3 Pages

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie, the protagonist, is a 15-year-old girl living in the suburbs, who conveys the qualities of a typical teenager: she listens to music, goes out with her friends, is obsessed about her looks, likes getting attention from boys and is intrigued with her sexuality. On one typical night out with her friends she notices a mysterious guy making suggestive gestures to her in the parking lot of a drive-in restaurant, but she remains unfazed and leaves with a guy named Eddie. Then one Sunday afternoon, her family leaves to go to an aunt’s barbecue leaving her home alone, but soon after the mysterious guy pulls up in a gold colored car in her driveway with his friend. He proceeds

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

592 Words | 3 Pages

In the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, the main character Connie is continuously trying to find herself and become more independent. Constant fights with her mother lead Connie wanting more freedom and to live her life the way she sees fit and finds an escape in music. Throughout the story, Oates places emphasis on music in each scene, whether it be related to Connie’s second personality, at the diner or the music being played in Arnold Friends’ car. This recurrence of music acts as a symbol for Connie’s hunger for independence.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis

1778 Words | 8 Pages

As Gretchen Schulz and R.J.R. Rockwood put it, “Toward Arnold friend and what he represents, Connie is ambivalent: she is both fascinated and frightened. She is after all, at that confusing age when girls feels, thinks, and acts both like a child, put off by a possible lover, and like a woman, attracted to him”(577). In other words, Connie’s actions are led by her shallow emotions and desires. Her intuition warns

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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,

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

441 Words | 2 Pages

In this story, Oates describes Connie character as a pretty young girl with “long dark blond hair that drew anyone’s eye to it.” (86) Because Connie led two different lives, she would dress and look different at home, then she would with

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