Analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Essay

Words: 1038
Pages: 5
Open Document
Hurst 1

Allison Hurst
Professor Ben Mayo
English Comp II
30 April 2011
Analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates In 1966, Joyce Carol Oates published her short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. Oates was inspired to write this story after reading about a serial killer that was referred to as “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Oates was disturbed by the number of teenagers that this killer was able to persuade to help him and keep his secrets (Oates 1). Oates uses irony, imagery, and symbolism to support her theme of evil in this short story. Oates starts off by introducing the story’s 15 year old protagonist, Connie. Connie is symbolic of innocence and good. However, Connie has …show more content…
Oates does not give a concrete ending to the story, thus allowing the reader to come to their own
Hurst 3

conclusion. However, Oates’ theme is present in whichever ending is chosen. Evil has persuaded good to concede. The title itself is ironic. Connie is allowed to go out with her girlfriends without her own parents asking exactly where she is going or where she has been when she returns home. Her friend’s dad does not ask these questions either (Oates 470). There is a sense of “moral indifference of the entire adult society” portrayed in this story (Wegs 1). Wegs points out, that since her parents do not bother to keep tabs on her that Connie is left defenseless with the temptations presented from evil.
Parents should take the time to ask their children where they are going, who they are going to be with, and what are they going to do. Evil is rampant in the world, and probably more so today than it was in the 60’s when this story was written. Perhaps by writing this story, Oates intended to send a message to parents and children alike. Parents, know what your children are doing; be concerned about their well-being, and let them know you care. Children, talk to your parents, listen to them, and always present yourself with respect so that others will respect you in return.

Hurst 4

Works Cited
Oates, Joyce Carol. "’Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ and Smooth Talk: Short Story Into
Show More

Related Documents: Analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Essay

Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

Typically when you read a story, you don’t look for its deep meaning, nor do you really care what it is. You read the story, then you go on with your life. In the effort to change my terrible habits, This is my attempt at my own personal analysis for the story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been.” The story was released in 1966, and at the time let reporters scrambling to find its meaning. Connie is 15 years old in the story, and is always having trouble with her mom and sister. Disobeying…

Words 720 - Pages 3

Analysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

First published in 1966, the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a suspense story about murder and rape. The principal character of this story is Connie, a fifteen-year old girl immersed in the popular culture of Hollywood, music, shopping, and her own looks. In the story, Connie’s romantic notions of love collide with the brutal world of adult sexuality with extremely disastrous consequences.…

Words 72 - Pages 1

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Analysis

Short Story: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? The short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? was published in 1966 by Joyce Carol Oates. It tells a story of a 15-year-old girl named Connie who leaves for a car ride with an older man named Arnold. Although Oates short story can be understood as a crime drama based on the criminal activities of Charles Schmid or a cautionary tale against the permissive “sex, drugs, and rock n roll” culture, in this essay I will argue that this short…

Words 1648 - Pages 7

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

the reader to want to see them succeed. Similarly a story can be a fictional tale, but be based on a factual event that actually happened. Two stories that show examples of these ideas are “The Metamorphosis” by Franz Kafka and “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates. In Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis”, the main character, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one day to discover…

Words 874 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been: Presentation Analysis

best, the story that I came up with was, on my opinion, quite interesting. For my story, I decided to continue the mythical story of Snow White after she got married to her prince charming. I also decided to follow Oates’ story of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by applying a well known story to my story. Oates used christianity as the supporting role for his story as well as characterizing Arnold…

Words 284 - Pages 2

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

In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Written by Joyce Carol Oates, the immaturity of the protagonist Connie, ultimately results in her downfall due to the effect of societal pressures. While Connie is a popular and attractive young girl, she has a lot more going against her in life. She has no relationship with her father, she is constantly nagged by her mother to be more like her older sister, and is only interested with how she looks rather than things that should matter more…

Words 1782 - Pages 8

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Connie Character Analysis

“Characterization of Connie in ‘Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?’” In the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, the protagonist, Connie, is indulged in her own self. First, Connie is obsessed with her self image and material things. “Her name was Connie. She was fifteen and she had a quick nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors, or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right.” (Oates, 83). Connie is…

Words 582 - Pages 3

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis Essay

adulthood determines the individual’s identity in almost entirety. These are vulnerable years where the child can either, attach to an advanced mentality and build a life of prosperity, or, do the opposite and live a life where the child is continuingly trying to fix his or her life because of succumbing to distractions in those few years. Joyce Carol Oates, in the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, illustrates the horrors and temptations that teenagers face in their growth to adulthood…

Words 918 - Pages 4

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

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates is a story with a character named Arnold friend. In the story Arnold is depicted as a very out going individual; and this is seen as soon as he is introduced. As the the story progresses his personality shines through and presents himself to be quite a creepy man from my perspective. However, Ellie focused more on his voice rather than the content and perceived it as a "simple lilting voice, exactly as if he were reciting the words to…

Words 257 - Pages 2

An Analysis Of Joyce Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Joyce Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” describes a young girl who has critical mom that wishes she could be more like her older sister. It begins with the mother “who noticed everything and knew everything” (171) to Connie’s mother her older sister is perfect. Because of this she has set the do and don’ts for what Connie is allowed to do. Due to her sister she and some girls could go and hang out whenever they wanted. Instead of staying at the mall the girls went “across the highway…to…

Words 878 - Pages 4