Joyce Carol Oate’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” expresses multiple themes throughout its story. These themes that are presented and are the most abundant in Oate’s short story are, fantasy versus reality, independence, and absence of authority. All of these themes contribute to the story about a young girl who is exploring herself and her body, in the hopes of finding her true independence as a woman. Her curiosity is what eventually leads her to a negative time in her life, a time
the story “Where are you going, Where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates, becomes associated with. The story features a young female struggling with personal “demons” caused by her encounter with a “devilish” antagonist. Connie, who lives in her own fantasy world, is thrown for a curveball after being trapped by Arnold Friend, the “devilish” antagonist. Her protective, fantasied world comes to an abrupt stop. Textual elements in the story reflect upon the theme of fantasy vs. reality throughout
Joyce Carol Oates is a prolific author of works in Literature, Film, Poetry and Stage. Her most famous short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, has been studied for decades by critics whom theories on the story, and by extension it's ending, range from religious, fantastic, dreamlike to unflinching realistic. The story itself, which details the activities of an teenage girl and her horrifying encounter with dangerous strangers, showcases a trademark in Oates stories of violence and
Joyce Carol Oates’ short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” takes readers on a suspenseful ride. Not only does Oates create a thrilling plot, but also ends her story in a complete mystery for what happens next. By analyzing the elements of theme, symbolism, and characterization, it can help create a better understanding for “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” On of the themes from, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is the reality of who someone really is. Despite
Joyce Carol Oates writes about the depravity that our youth is faced with everyday within the American Culture. The themes in “Heat” and “Where are you going, where have you been” include a very real picture of violence, loss of innocence, and the brutality of evil deviance that our children face within their community. Oates allows the reader to look past the words on the pages and create their own horrifying conclusions on what happens to the innocent characters while encouraging the reader to
brings mixed reactions that range from calm acceptance to mild confusion. One of the most poignant examples of familial disillusionment comes from the 1970 chilling tale entitled “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates. Oates’ story shatters the image of quaint family life and replaces it with the reality of cruel individuals preying on the
A Journey Within Everyone as human beings at some point or another in their life go through the phase of trying to figure out who they are and finding their independence. Some don’t have to work too hard, it just comes naturally to them. For most people it takes a lot of mistakes made, learning from those mistakes, getting stronger from those lessons learned, and finding the strength within ones self to rise up every time they fall down to be able to get back up and keep fighting doing it better
The Perfect Devil In her fictional story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” Joyce Carol Oates tells the thrilling story of a gullible fifteen year old girl named Connie ,whose privacy is violated when a stranger named Arnold Friend pulls up in her driveway and gestures her to join him for a ride. Arnold Friend is a character that is flamboyant, friendly in appearance, and emanates all the qualities of the perfect “prince charming”. Oates has written a story which gives us a twisted take