Connies World - 1092 Words

Joyce Carol Oates began her short story, â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,† with a 15 year old girl named Connie whose mother that had always compared her to her sister June. This gave the reader a chance to establish a connection with Connie. Since almost every teenager has felt a comparison to another sibling at least once in their life, unless they were an only child, but then they were probably compared to family friend’s child. Her mother would say things like â€Å"Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister?† or â€Å"How’ve you got your hair fixed – what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk† (Oates, 1). Perhaps this is the reason that Connie has created a fantasy against the reality of the†¦show more content†¦Evidently, she has begun to question herself on what is real or not. This subconsciously starts to change Arnold’s world into reality and her own as fantasy. When Arnold first appeared at the door, Connie responded with a blunt and clear-cut â€Å"Who the hell do you think you are?†; compared to now where responses muddled and unsure like â€Å"I don’t know† or â€Å"things† (Oates, 4). As the conversation progressed, she uncomfortably backed farther and farther away into the kitchen, but the space of the room also lost familiarity as interior worlds broke down (Rubin, 69). To Connie, the next few scenes have become a turning point; a point where her childlike innocence has been taken and she is left vulnerable with an emptiness. With that vulnerability, Arnold is now able to say â€Å"you’re better than them because not a one of them would have done this for you,† which creates a greater impact now than if he said it when he first appeared at Connie’s door. At this time, Connie moves toward Arnold, not because he has gotten into her thoughts but because Connie believes th is is the only way to escape. Teenagers are often compared to others, either through academics or athletics, and some end up rebelling against their parents. Teenagers tend to act, dress, speak, and do everything else differently around different groups of people, especially family members and parents. Teenagers are also pushed towards music, which creates an escapeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been 1148 Words   |  5 Pagessexuality, listening to music and daydreaming her ideas into fantasies. Connie’s major dilemma in the story is Arnold Friend, which we will explore later. The importance’s of the music in this short story is pronounce, because I feel that music sets the mood for important events, that Connie deals with. The premise that flows through this story is that music is connected to the real world and weaves through Connie s dream world. Connie is very much like many teenagers in our society today. ConnieRead MoreCommentary on Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy846 Words   |  4 PagesA New World Is Possible Every generation has had a sub-culture within it that has suffered from feeling alienated by the cultural status quos. From the beat generation of the late 40s, the counter-culture of the 60s, to the Occupy Wall Street movement of today, the challenging of ideas, ethics and traditions has always been relevant. Many writers and novels have been popularized for exploring utopian ideas (such as Aldous Huxley’s The Island) and dystopian possibilities (as in George Orwell’s 1984)Read MoreWhere Are You Going Where Have You Been And Brave New Men Character Analysis1084 Words   |  5 PagesThe women of society are succumbing to the control of men around them. Many women know of the control men have over their lives while some are not aware of this power men have over women. In Brave New World, a novel by Aldous Huxley, and â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Oates, the two authors create situations in which men control, manipulate, and suppress women, whether it be physical or psychological. The men of both works catch women at their most vulnerable states. This mayRead More Reality is Like A Dream in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates1520 Words   |  7 PagesFrom theories about dreams, theories about subconscious thought, and the clues that Oates provides, the reader is lead to believe that Connie’s experience with Arnold Friend is a nightmare used to awaken her to the consequences that her behavior could result in. Have you ever experienced a dream or a nightmare that seemed like reality? Most people in the world today would say that they have. Although this realistic dream experience does not occur often, when it does, clear distinctions are hardRead More Themes Discussed in Joyce Oates Where Are You Going , Where Have You Been1551 Words   |  7 Pagesout of life. One finds themselves frustrated and confused in this particular stage. They are mid way between a bridge. They have left childhood but have not yet reached adulthood. They struggle to find some sense of being and individuality in the world. They are on a quest to find themselves, and in search of a path that will lead them to future happiness. â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,† is a short story written by Joyce Oates .In her short story Oates shows how easily susceptible oneRead More Women on the Edge of Time Essay1519 Words   |  7 Pagesnovel that illustrates some problems of today’s society and compares them to a possible future time. The other world that is presented in the book is called Mattapoisett. Mattapoisett is described as an utopian science fiction place because is much different from the place that Connie lived. Even thought Mattapoisett might be the world that Connie’s culture needed it is not a perfect world. Some of the problems that Marge Piercy presents in the book are poverty, women’s role, and problems of governmentRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1733 Words   |  7 PagesFeeling trapped in her own home with her own family, Connie, a self-conscious and rebellious teenager, tries to figure out a way to identify herself with the world around her. Her desire of escaping the reality fuels her struggle to enter adulthood. Through the physical form of Arnold Friend, who embodies both the hope and the despair in Connie’s struggle, the author metaphorically portrays a vigorous and psychological pressure that Connie has to endure. The story is scripted to allude to the dangerRead MoreFamily Matters : Joyce Oates s Story About A Young Girl Being Stalked1060 Words   |  5 Pagesenvironment. It emphasizes how important your home life really is. In this narrative, the way fifteen-year-old Connie’s family treated her played a large part in her kidnapping. Family dynamics are crucial to any story. They shape a character s life and make them into who they are. A family is supposed to guide children through life, not leave them to figure it out themselves. Unfortunately, Connie’s chose to do the latter. Her family was not present enough to teach her right from wrong. Seeing as theRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?1135 Words   |  5 Pagesreality, and loss of innocence. Connie is constantly aiming to prove her maturity and independence to the world around her, leading to the turn of events that culminates into her kidnapping. In the beginning of the short story, the narrator describes Connie’s repulsion of her dependence on adults. Connie has to rely on adults for everything, driving her need for independence. Whenever Connie’s mother would ask Connie to be responsible, â€Å"Connie would raise her eyebrows at these familiar old complaintsRead MoreComing Of Age : A Comparative Analysis Of `` Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?870 Words   |  4 PagesCure† by Alice Munro share the common theme of â€Å"Coming of Age†, which depicts a maturation of the character/s going from a child to an adult. In both short stories, the female protagonist has a defining experience that changes the way they view the world or themselves. While both of these stories share the common theme of coming of age, both of them explore this theme in very different ways. Coming of age as a story theme illustrates a character’s growth and maturity as they transition from child to