Summary Of 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

Words: 782
Pages: 4
Open Document
Mr. Oates wrote a short story titled, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, and in that story he uses binaries, to support religion and shows a socking turn of events, to enlighten new audience. Throughout the story we see Oates using elements of binaries to connect with religion, with the purpose of communicating with the reader factors of good, evil, light, and dark. In the beginning of the story we are introduced to the main character Connie, a young fifteen year old girl that cares more about her looks than anything else, as she says “she knew she was pretty and that was everything.” But she was also an outcast to her own family as her mom “picked at her” and compared her to her older sister “June did this, June did that, she saved money and helped clean the house and cooked and Connie …show more content…
Oates gives great details with every new character that comes across Connie, he allows us to define if the character is evil or good. For example when Oates describes Arnold Friend he is a character that seems to be a nice persona; at first, as he says “I wanta introduce myself, I'm Arnold Friend and that's my real name and I'm gonna be your friend, honey,” he claims just wanting to be friends with her, but as Connie continues to carry on a conversation with him ‘He placed his sunglasses on top of his head, carefully, as if he were indeed wearing a wig, and brought the stems down behind his ears,” she realizes how old he really is, and starts to get worried for her safety. For Arnold wasn’t the only one that had arrived to Connie’s Home, Arnold also brought a friend named Ellie which according to Oates had “the face of a forty-year-old baby.” Oates uses binaries to describing Arnold Friend and Ellie to show the reader the con artist they are, and what kind of intentions they have for a young, pure, fifteen year old, that doesn’t know much how much evil there is around her. Oates mentions that the
Show More

Related Documents: Summary Of 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

make unsuspecting targets their own, thus representing society's dark side. In his insightful analysis, "Impure Realism: As D. F. Hurley exposes the complexity of Arnold Friend's character and his dialogue with Connie in his essay "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" it becomes clear that the encounter is based on a lot of manipulation and dishonesty. This exploration exemplifies the moral Oates drives throughout her story, making it clear that girls may occasionally find themselves in situations…

Words 1084 - Pages 5

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

“Impure Realism: Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Studies in Short Fiction; Newberry, S.C. Vol. 28. Iss. -. 3, (Summer 1991): 371. https://wnc.instructure.com/courses/3464751/pages/where-are-you-going-where-have-you-been. Accessed on 4 Apr. 2024. The. This is considered a scholarly article. The comparison between the serial killer, Charles Howard Schmid, and the character in the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Arnold Friend can be vague in his characteristics…

Words 712 - Pages 3

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

Analysis of where are You Going, Where Have You Been? Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? By Joyce Carol Oates is a short story about a 15-year old girl named Connie. Connie is narcissistic, full of the sense of superiority that comes from being young and thinking you know everything. She has a strained relationship with her family. Connie believes her mother is jealous of her because the mother's looks have faded with age and children, while Connie is still young and beautiful. Connie’s…

Words 1071 - Pages 5

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is a very interesting and kind of chilling story by Carol Oates. In it tells about a young girl named Connie who is very attractive to boys and she knows this and takes advantage by using her looks. She doesn’t have the best relationship with her family because of her lack of communication. When Connie is in her house with her family she is not the same Connie she is outside of her home. She is more woman like and tries to flaunt her beauty by walking a…

Words 548 - Pages 3

Summary Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

Some parents can be extremely overprotective of their children and some can be very chill and let their children do whatever they want whenever they want, just to make sure they are having a good time all the time. In the article, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Connie was the youngest child and had no privileges, but on the other hand, her sister, June, got to do whatever she wanted whenever she wanted, no matter the time or day. Some children can be spoiled, some can be worked on and…

Words 806 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

Joyce Carol Oates captures the mind of readers with her fictional piece “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. The story tells the life of fifteen year old Connie who lives in the suburbs in the early 1960’s, where she is stalked and it is implied to the reader that she was possibly abducted and/or killed. Oates opens a door to readers by letting them know that “everything about her [Connie] had two sides to it, one for home, and one for anywhere that was not home” (315). The author uses Connie’s…

Words 1147 - Pages 5

Summary Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

In Joyce Carol Oates story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” a young woman is influenced by two strangers to leave her home and go with them. Though this appears to be a dangerous situation, there is evidence to support that Connie has fallen asleep and is dreaming. The evidence incudes; Connie has fallen asleep includes; Connie and her attacker have an unsettling connection, she has already fallen asleep once, and events take place that commonly happens in people’s dreams. Connie’s mother…

Words 893 - Pages 4

Summary Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Joyce Carol Oates story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been”, is about a fifteen year old girl who is preoccupied by her own appearance. She also thinks highly on how other people perceive her. She is constantly looking in the mirror every chance she gets to make sure she looks alright. Her sense of self is revolved around her beauty rather than the other qualities she has. For this reason this is why Connie's mother hollers at her every time she catches…

Words 308 - Pages 2

Summary Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie, the fifteen year old main character, loves to admire herself. Her family tends to criticize her for being so obsessed with herself. Connie is expected to follow in her sister, June’s, footsteps. The only good custom Connie is thankful for is June going out with her friends occasionally. This allows Connie to be able to go out as well. When Connie goes out with her friends, they like to sneak around to meet boys…

Words 831 - Pages 4

Summary Of The Book 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

that young women “desires to wander in a world increasingly explored”, but too much imagination is never a good practice. In the book “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Connie is not content with her life, but imagination only leads her to danger. Connie’s mother is aware of Connie’s imagination and she warns her to “Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty”? She is pleased that her daughter knows she is pretty, but she does not want it to go to her head. Connie’s…

Words 490 - Pages 2