Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Essay

Submitted By MariahSimank1
Words: 610
Pages: 3
Open Document
In the short story by Joyce Carol Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the traumatic tale of a young girl preyed on by older men is told. The story begins with a beautiful teen constantly being torn down by her parents. She seeks attention and acceptance from boys around town causing her let her guard around men; which later becomes problem. Two unfamiliar men arrive at her house when her family leaves. Instead of keeping the door shut or calling the police, she opens the door and begins to converse with the men. She notices that they are idiosyncratic, and giving off warning signs. In the end, the fear takes over and she goes with the strange men; disappearing into the desert with her ‘lover’ forever. The use of setting allows the author to establish the unguarded innocence of the young girls, leading to their vulnerability.
The innocence of the town is shown through the simple life style. From “taking a drive” to “going to a barbecue”, each action shows the purity of the time (Oates 373/374). The simple activity of hanging out with friends and family gives the reader the impression of simplicity. The entertainment was subtle, from spending the day at home in the sun “listening to the XYZ Sunday Jamboree”, to hanging around the sleepy town (Oates 373). The author incorporates a number of examples such as a drive-in restaurant or the shopping plaza that gives the reader an idea of specific activities that took place. These teens weren’t up to much, their surroundings allowed them to be unguarded, which the cultural setting revealed. The author also gives the reader a sense of the time period by using objects and characterization. For example the boom box, the car, or the young men’s wardrobe gives the reader insight. The “tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots….and a white pullover shirt” helps to define the era for the reader (Oates 374). The simple use of descriptive words provides information of the setting, the date, time and place this story occurred. The author also uses elements from nature to emphasize emotions felt. Heat is a recurring element that is exaggerated over and over. From the men’s shirts being a “little soiled” to “sweat [breaking] all over her face” the author uses this element to
Show More

Related Documents: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Essay

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

There comes a time in everyone’s life where they outgrow a stage of their life. This part of their life is the coming of age, where they transition from being a child to an adult. There are some excellent short stories that have great examples of the coming of age stage. “Boys and Girls” by Alice Munro and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, are exemplary coming of age short stories. Throughout these short stories we see the lessons the characters learn, as well as how…

Words 98 - Pages 1

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

another, every story comes from something people have seen before. This also includes fictional stories, as everything must be grounded in some type of reality. Reading stories like these helps us understand our own lives as well, things we may not have understood until reading the right book. Some examples are “Where are you going, Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates and “We Grow Accustomed to the Dark” by Emily Dickinson. These both have experiences that many can find themselves relating…

Words 746 - Pages 3

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, we read about two characters, a girl and an American man. The two have short conversations between them, and these conversations can hint of many clues about them and their relationship. In the story, we discover what the characters are like, through what they say, and also through the things they don’t say. The short story “Where are you going, Where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates is about a teenage girl who is, vain, self-doubting and affixed in the present…

Words 1488 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

In the ever-evolving landscape of American English literature, the inclusion of diverse texts that speak to a multitude of experiences and perspectives is crucial. Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is a compelling narrative that merits its place in the American English Literature 2360 syllabus for several reasons. Its exploration of themes such as teenage rebellion, the loss of innocence, and the dangers of naivety and manipulation; its profound use of literary techniques…

Words 2257 - Pages 10

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Danger can be in the most unlikely places if you are looking for it, that’s what happened to Connie in Joyce Oates’ short story, “Where are you going, Where have you been?”. The story is about a young teenage girl, who is very concerned about her looks and social life. Sadly for Connie, the ending becomes very dark as she’s kidnapped by a man named Arnold, who pretends to be a boy her age to lure her outside of her home. A warning is an overall idea regarding the purpose of this writing and how Oates…

Words 335 - Pages 2

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Characters can exhibit symptoms of self-victimization, thinking problems they have caused do not stem from their actions but instead were forced to because of other people. This sentiment causes a character to form an idealized version of what is going on, thinking of themselves as innocent bystanders to their own lives. This delusional personality type was seen in Connie from "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" and Mrs. Das in "The Interpreter of Maladies." As people grow, they will be able…

Words 1335 - Pages 6

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

“My parents don’t understand a word I’m saying (Osterweil 1)” This is a result of communication gap between parents and child. Readers see the same communication gap between Connie and her parents in Joyce Carol Oates short story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” Oates, in her story, gave the ultimate valuation of such a gap through Connie’s surrender to the devil Arnold Friend (Oates). Oates left readers to guess Connie’s fate in the hand of devil Arnold Friend. Joyce Carol Oates in a…

Words 803 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?

environment is natural and inherent. For women, society has created an environment that diminishes them from being an object under the control of harsh expectations and norms. Joyce Carol Oates uses the character Connie, in her story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” to describe the effects of pop culture, beauty standards and sexuality on a young girl. Tennessee Williams uses the character Blanche, in his play A Streetcar Named Desire to describe a similar effect of societal standards and a…

Words 800 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Check out "Araby" by James Joyce, "Paul's Case" by Willa Cather, and "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, we can see how they align with or challenge R.S. Gwynn's reasons for studying literature: experience, experiment, and expand. Each story is unique. They dive into human life and play with literary methods, which deepen our insights into complex themes and characters. In "Araby," James Joyce shows disillusionment and loss of innocence through a young boy's eyes. The…

Words 944 - Pages 4

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

and use ways to make them feel safe with them, until they realize they’re not. Connie was personally affected when she found out Arnold had been stalking and following her, knowing too much information about her. After a long stand off with him, she realized she must go with him, he’s kidnapping her. In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” the author Joyce Oates shows how dangerous men can…

Words 1284 - Pages 6