Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?

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Being affected by one's 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 belittling environment on a woman. To describe the complexity of a female affected by society to the extent of a loss of self, is a difficult task that Joyce Carol Oates and Tennessee Williams both achieve through their characters Connie and Blanche. Firstly, both Oates and …show more content…
I'm your lover, honey." She responds, "What? You're crazy-" and he interrupts with "Yes." I'm your love of the world. You don't know what that is but you will.” (Oates 2211) This highlights the disregard for Connie's autonomy and reflects the common ignorance towards women. In the end, the man forcefully takes her away and she loses control of him. Further showing the forced submission of women by men, a long-standing dynamic that society has normalized and promoted. Similarly, Blanche is also a victim of a man that assumes control over her. Her sister’s husband, Stanley, is very abusive to not only his wife, but Blanche as well. While they are alone and drunk, Stanley goes against her wishes of being left alone by him and approaches her despite her pleading “BLANCHE; I warn you, don't, I'm in danger!” Once he gets closer, she resorts to a desperate attempt of violence to defend herself by breaking a bottle and aiming it at him. However, since he is a representation of the merciless role of control that men have been made to feel entitled to, he takes no mind to her and says “STANLEY: Oh! So you want some rough
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