Character analysis of Connie in "Where are you going, where... (2023)

1230 words | 5 pages

The presentation of a story marks its beginning and introduces the reader to the narrative (Norton 89). Baldwin begins his story by introducing us to the narrator, who learns of Sonny's arrest after being involved in a heroin arrest. On the other hand, the exhibition "Where are you going, where have you been?" introduces us to Connie, the main character. She is a self-absorbed fifteen year old girl who is obsessed with her beauty. The beginning of the story is quite different for two of the stories. For Baldwin, he begins the story with a more recent event and uses flashback memories to show us how Sonny becomes addicted to heroin and how their relationship deteriorates. For Oates, the story begins with the introduction of the

359 words | 2 pages

Arnold Friend, the antagonist in Joyce Carol Oates' story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, portrays the devil who arrives to take Connie to the Underworld. For example, his unusual appearance suggests he is an inhuman being, unlike what he intends to invoke. As he struggles to walk from his car to the front door, Connie remarks that "his whole face was a mask...tanned up to his neck...like he had...makeup on...but forgot his neck" (5). Arnold Friend covers up his demonic traits to pass as a teenager with the intention of getting Connie to go with him. Disguising himself is one method he uses to ensure she doesn't reject him outright, but at least considers his advances to get her

1428 words | 6 pages

Home is where the heart is, but what if home is no longer safe? Joyce Carol Oates explores this concept in her 1966 short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been. On the surface, this story appears to be about a rebellious young girl named Connie and her confrontation with Arnold Friend, a stalker. The ending leads the reader to suspect that Arnold Friend plans to sexually assault the young girl. But beyond what was initially shown, a new context can be attached to the action. Carl Jung's theory of archetypal patterns delves into the human psyche by analyzing its parts. According to Jung, the human mind is divided into three distinct parts; the ego, the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious – which can be broken down into many different archetypes affecting personality (McLeod). Oates uses archetypes and symbolism to show the struggle of a young girl trying to create her own home and identity in a world that is doing so

1181 words | 5 pages

The short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? was written in 1966 by author Joyce Carol Oates. Oates describes her idea for the story after briefly reading an article about real-life killer Charles Schmid, who lured and murdered three teenage girls (Kirszner & Mandell 523). She uses this idea to create the character Arnold Friend and his victim, Connie. Connie is a typical teenage girl who is portrayed as naive and self-centered. The short story appears realistic as the conflict in the story is based on real events. Oates unexpectedly adds fairy tale allusions to the story that suggest a much deeper meaning than the original realistic interpretation. The use of fairy tales adds an extremely important element to the story that evil can lurk in unexpected places.

747 words | 3 pages

Connie is a fifteen year old trying to make the most of her life by seeking attention from others. Having the attention she wants makes her feel superior and makes her feel like no one can tear down her ego. The only one trying to tear down her ego is her mother, who wants her to be like her older sister June, who is the opposite of Connie. She is mature and even helps the family. So that Connie can teach a lesson in her admitted qualities, she meets Arnold. Arnold is someone who knows Connie's lifestyle inside out and reportedly wants to be with her. The dialogue between her and Arnold makes her come to the realization of growing up. In "Where are you going, where have you been?" I believe that Oates captures the nature of adolescence through symbolism, tone, and

657 words | 3 pages

The short story "Where are you going, where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates can be interpreted in many ways due to its ambiguity. However, a psychological lens offers the most accurate vantage point for analyzing the story, as it clarifies certain obscure scenes and actions of Connie.

103 words | 1 pages

In Joyce Carole Oate's short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, the battle between perception and reality comes into play when Connie, a young teenage girl, tries to portray herself as an adult by using both her looks and her personality Attitude sets in to attract the attention of older men. This fantasy world of Connie is eventually overthrown by Arnold Friend, causing her to come back to the realization that her sexual fantasies are about to become a reality. This overall theme of sexual reality is reinforced by Connie and Arnold's different uses of music and character imagery

700 words | 3 pages

In the coming-of-age story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to anticipate the unfortunate but ill-timed fate of fifteen-year-old Connie. While one might think that the conflict stems from Connie's promiscuity, it's clear that her promiscuity is just the result of a much larger conflict, namely her mother's constant nagging and disapproval, and her father's lack of attention. The author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl like Connie goes elsewhere to find the love, attention, and approval she lacks at home. Anything essential to their growth and well-being as a person.

804 words | 4 pages

This quote shows the differences between Connie's behavior, including her laughter, at home and in public. Mention of a charm bracelet reminds readers of Connie's femininity and youth, while use of the words cynical and sluggish reminds readers of masculinity. This shows how Connie tries to appear extra feminine and therefore sexier in public. This quote compares a religious building to a restaurant, representing the social and cultural world in which Connie lives. This allows the audience to have a better understanding of the conditions of society around Connie so they can have a better understanding of her actions. This quote also shows what is important to Connie since her church is essentially a restaurant and her prayer is essentially music. In this quote, Oates portrays Arnold Friend as an animal, specifically a hawk or bird of prey. This indicates that Arnold Friend will be hunting Connie and that his presence poses a danger. Finally, Arnold Friend threatens to collapse the house, threatening her childhood and the world she knows as this is her home

1001 Words | 5 pages

The story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been was written by Joyce Carol Oates and published in 1966. In this short story we are introduced to a 15 year old girl named Connie. She is described as very conceited and she is always obsessed with her physical appearance. Her family life is perceived as very dysfunctional. Her mother always compares her to her older sister June, and Connie's father is all but absent from her life. Due to a lack of family support and guidance, Connie lies to her parents about where she is and she sneaks into local hangouts. Unfortunately, while she's out, she catches the eye of Arnold Friend. This man will erase Connie's nonsense and show her just how cruel the world can actually be. Many literary

694 words | 3 pages

In the short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates, the main character finds himself in a very hostile situation. With a most fateful encounter with a man named Arnold Friend. Forcing her to choose between running away with him or taking her by force. Known to the reader as Arnold Friend, this man comes across as almost demon-like. A character who uses many temptations, puns and threats to take advantage of the young protagonist, Connie. Oates' biography explained her writing as a mixture of violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely suits the plot point of this story as its two literary ingredients are present not only in Arnold Friend but also in Connie.

1203 words | 5 pages

The short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates is about a teenage girl named Connie who finds herself in the fog of her teenage rebellion. She wants to prove her maturity to others and to herself. In the story, Oates describes how Connie always lets her mind flow freely between her daydreams. She creates and even dreams of her ideal male figure in her mind to make her happy and content. Oates takes the reader into Connie's "dream world" through the appearance of Arnold Friend. There are many examples throughout the story: the illogical timing and locations, the resemblance between Arnold and Connie, and the unrealistic events show that Connie and Arnold Friend's meeting is a dream. The dream is also a preparation for Conny before she enters the stage of adulthood.

1061 words | 5 pages

I'm sure we've all heard of young and beautiful girls who seek attention and end up in sticky situations. There are times when they may never get out of the situation, but when they do, they try to change their behaviors. In Joyce Carol Oate's short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, a character named Connie fits right into this category. Connie is very vain and loves attention. Connie's attention seeking puts her in a predicament she'd rather not be in. She managed to attract attention; But is this the kind of attention she wanted? Maybe she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. In this essay, I will explain why Connie, looking for attention in the wrong places, put her in such a delicate situation.

460 words | 2 pages

In Oate's story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, the story focuses primarily on the conflict and the main plot of Smooth Talk. "Where are you going, where have you been?" explains Connie's relationship with her family members, basically describing how she is a humble teenager who wants to be treated like an adult, but doesn't have the maturity and doesn't want to take on the responsibilities that always nor claimed (or at least attempted) their freedom. One Sunday her family goes to a barbecue that Connie refused to go to and a trusted stranger drives to her house. A few nights before, Connie and some friends had gone out to meet boys and Connie

817 words | 4 pages

In Joyce Carol Oate's "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Connie is a fifteen-year-old girl who is having troubles with her family. During the weekdays, she often goes to a mall with some of her friends. However, they sneak across the freeway to go to a popular diner where the older crowd hangs out. At home, Connie often argues with her family. One day her family is invited to her aunt's barbecue, but Connie refuses to go. Her parents reluctantly allow her to stay home alone. A few hours later, a familiar golden box pulls up in front of her house. The driver tells Connie that his name is Arnold Friend. His unusual physical appearance, tone of voice and what he might symbolize startle the Connie.