Connie's Character Analysis in "Where Are You Going"... (2023)

590 words3 pages

In the short story "Where are you going, where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie meets another character named Arnold Friend. Over the course of their interactions, Connie develops throughout the story. In "Where are you going, where have you been?" Connie evolves into a character through her relationship withMother, interactions with friends, and her emotional and physical state.
Despite the way Connie's mother treats her "she knows she's beautiful and that's all," she tries to hold her head high (323). Connie's mother looked at her daughter in disgust as she belittled her looks. This is because Connie doesn't deserve her sister's looks. Connie'sfamilyJust wants her to be like her older sister, so much so that Connie is always compared to Joan; "June did this, June did that" (324). When Connie's family left, she "sat in the sun with her eyes closed, dreaming, dazzled by the warmth around her as if it were a kind oflike, the touch of love", the way she felt when her family left her she dreamed of being loved (326). Connie felt this way because she had not yet felt loved in this way , which made her vulnerable. With Connie's home life and her family not visiting her in person, Connie was in
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Her hand seemed to hold it. For the first time in her life, she felt that nothing was hers and belonged to her, but just a throbbing, living thing in this body, which wasn't really hers" (336). Fear experiences this. When she realizes his true intentions, she becomes frightened of him. Connie realizes that she cannot escape, and that she has "never seen it before, and has no sense of it other than knowing where she is going." come out" (337). Throughout her interaction with her friend, she is emotionally and

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FAQs

Connie's Character Analysis in "Where Are You Going"...? ›

Connie is in the midst of an adolescent rebellion. She argues with her mother and sister, June, and neglects family life in favor of scoping out boys at the local restaurant. She tries to appear older and wiser than she is, and her head is filled with daydreams and popular music that feed her ideas of romance and love.

How would you characterize Connie? ›

The protagonist of the story, Connie is a pretty fifteen-year-old girl who loves spending time with her friends and flirting with boys. Connie takes great pleasure in her appearance, so much so that her mother often scolds her for being vain.

How is Connie characterized by Oates? ›

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Oates portrays Connie as obsessed with men to symbolize how one's obsession and narcissistic attitude can cause danger to seem surreal. In the short story, Carol Oates describes Connie as having two different personalities, one being a narcissistic attitude.

How is Connie a dynamic character in the story? ›

As the character analysis of Connie in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” proves, even if Connie does not leave her house and does not go out with Arnold, she understands that independence is not what she has believed to be. This realization of some facts makes her a dynamic character.

Is Connie a dynamic or static character? ›

Connie is a dynamic character and the hero in this story because she changes from a stuck up fifteen-year-old to a better version of herself.

What is Connie's internal conflict? ›

The internal conflict is within Connie. Connie struggles between being the person her parents want her to be and being the person she wants to be.

What happens to Connie at the end of the story? ›

In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Connie leaves the house with Arnold at the end of the story because she does not want Arnold to kill her family. In short, she sacrifices herself for her family.

Is Connie a sympathetic character? ›

In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," Oates's portrayal of Connie is sympathetic. At the beginning of the story, Connie is introduced as a normal fifteen-year-old. She is appearance-focused as many teen girls are, and she has conflict with her mother and responsible older sister.

What is the role of music in Connie's life what could it symbolize for her? ›

Connie mistakes music as a sacred force of protection because it gives her pleasure, failing to realize that it is actually a force of self- destruction. Oates uses music to transition between Connie's two lives: the dull one that she lives with her family, and the exciting public one she lives with her friends.

Why can't Connie resist Arnold? ›

Due to her insecurity and low self-esteem, Connie is just gullible enough to believe that it really is “all over for [her] here.” She is willing to go with Arnold Friend not because she actually wants to, but because she thinks he is right; Connie has nothing keeping her, not her friends, her family, or any of the ...

What does Connie's house symbolize? ›

Slowly, both Connie and the reader come to understand that if she leaves the house, Friend will take her away with him and rape her, perhaps even murder her. The house, then, comes to represent Connie's adolescent innocence and the safety both her family life and status as a child provides her with.

Where did Connie grow up in the effect? ›

She is the author of the plays The Sugar Syndrome, The Effect and ENRON, and adaptation writer of the television series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. Prebble grew up in Haslemere, Surrey, and was educated at Guildford High School.

What part does June play in Connie's characterization? ›

June plays an important role in Connie's characterization as she is a reflection of the kind of person Connie wants to be. Connie's ideas about her mother help to develop her characterization, as they demonstrate her ambivalence towards her mother.

Is Connie naive in Where Are You Going? ›

Connie's failure to look beyond her fantasies makes her prone to manipulation and deception; so one of her major character flaws is naiveté.

What is the author's tone toward Connie? ›

Tone. Oates's uses a sympathetic but serious tone for this story. The story is largely told with sympathy to Connie as the reader is allowed to explore Connie's thoughts and feelings toward her family, life, and Arnold Friend.

Is Connie dreaming in Where Are You Going? ›

In Joyce Carol Oates's “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the reader can conclude that this story is Connie's realistic dream. Connie's familiar reaction to Arnold Friend and her “home” are evidence that this encounter is a dream.

How is Connie different from her older sister June? ›

Connie's tenacious nature makes her almost argue with her mother about every little issue. Her older sister June who is twenty four on the other hand gets along well with her mother and she is considered the better of the two, June is an obedient hardworking lass who works as the secretary at Connie's high school .

What did Arnold friend do to Connie? ›

These are all parts of his attempt to manipulate Connie into coming out of her house so that he can abduct her and, it is implied, rape and murder her. Over the course of their disjointed conversation, there are references to biblical verses and Friend demonstrates an uncanny knowledge of Connie's personal life.

What is the conflict between Connie and Arnold? ›

The central conflict is between Arnold Friend and Connie. Arnold Friend wants Connie to leave her home and go for a ride with him. Connie wants Arnold Friend to leave her home and leave her alone. The home represents safety, innocence, family, security, and protection.

Why did Connie become happy? ›

Connie thought that the visitor was her own husband, Jim Macpherson that's why she was happy.

How does Connie save herself? ›

Later, Magna explained to Yumiko how she was able to survive the blast inside the cave, revealing that she and Connie had been able to camouflage themselves within the walker horde as they exited the cave and made their way to the Hilltop.

Who did Connie end up with? ›

The series is directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, and written by David Magee. Based on English author D.H. Lawrence's eponymous novel, directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, and written by David Magee in "Lady Chatterley's Lover," Connie Reid as she marries Clifford Chatterley.

What does Connie represent in the story? ›

Connie, also, has been said to represent many things: Eve, troubled youth, or spiritually unenlightened humanity.

How does Connie feel about her mother? ›

Connie has a love-hate relationship with her mother, with whom she identifies, but at the same time she has to distance herself from her mother in order to establish her independence.

What role does music play in Connie life? ›

From the outset of the story, music symbolizes Connie's inner life, specifically the pleasure she takes in romantic relationships and romantic ideals themselves. Whenever she goes to the plaza with her friends, music is always playing in the background.

What is Connie's American Dream? ›

Connie is attempting to overcome her plain life by living an alternate life on the weekends. Joyce Carol Oates characters frequently fall short of their dreams, mainly because their dreams are unobtainable. Connie's dream of the American rock-star does not exist, This preview is partially blurred.

What was Connie's relationship with her mother? ›

she would lie to her mom about hanging out with the pettinger girl, and would even feel proud afterwards for being able to fool her. Explains that connie and her mother's personality were too much alike for them to get along. they were overbearing towards her and not willing to give each other a chance.

Why is Connie mute? ›

Played by Lauren Ridloff (Broadway's Children of a Lesser God). A seasoned survivor deft at using her senses to read people, situations, and trouble. Connie is deaf and uses American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate, as does Lauren in real life.

What does Connie initially find appealing about Arnold Friend? ›

Despite his strange appearance, Arnold is initially somewhat appealing to Connie in a dangerous way. He is an older, highly sexualized man who offers to take her away from her life as an unhappy teenager. He is incredibly different from Connie's family and the other boys she knows, which intrigues her.

What does place mean in this context and how is Connie's identity destined by it? ›

What does place mean in this context, and how is Connie's identity destined by it? The place that Arnold mentions represents Connie's safety and her life as it used to be before she met Arnold. Connie can't escape from that moment and from danger. Connie's house isn't safe anymore and she can't hide there.

What is Connie's attitude toward her family? ›

Connie rejects the role of daughter, sister, and “nice” girl to cultivate her sexual persona, which flourishes only when she is away from her home and family. She makes fun of her frumpy older sister, June, and is in constant conflict with her family.

What is the significance of Connie's getting into the car with Arnold at the end of the story? ›

Friend continually asks Connie to come for a ride in the car; it is the means by which he will take her away from her home, and, by extension, her family and her life as a teenager. In this way, getting into the car will bring an end to Connie's childhood innocence.

Why is Connie home alone? ›

Connie willingly separates herself from the family; she is disdainful of the idea of going to the barbecue and would rather spend time home alone, perhaps an attempt to assert her maturity and independence.

Who did Connie have a crush on? ›

Jessie encounters a girl named Connie who has a crush on Luke.

Does connies mom become human? ›

Springer is the mother of Connie Springer and a resident in Ragako village. She was transformed into a Titan by Zeke during Wall Rose's supposed breach. After the Eldians lost the Power of the Titans, Ms. Springer was returned to human form.

What was important about Connie in Where Are You Going? ›

Connie is in the midst of an adolescent rebellion. She argues with her mother and sister, June, and neglects family life in favor of scoping out boys at the local restaurant. She tries to appear older and wiser than she is, and her head is filled with daydreams and popular music that feed her ideas of romance and love.

What does Oates mean when she says everything about Connie had two sides to it? ›

Important Quotes Explained

This quotation appears near the beginning of the story and explains the two-sidedness of Connie. At home, Connie appears childish, but away from home, she strives to appear sexy, mature, and seductive. For the most part, her two sides seem to exist in harmony.

What is the character of Connie Macpherson? ›

She is a mentally stressed wife suffering from the pain of separation. She is living in a false hope because her husband is not coming back from war. She loves her husband too much and waits for his return. She suffers from burns when a fire breaks in her house causing severe injuries.

How would you characterize the relationship between Connie and her mother? ›

Connie has a love-hate relationship with her mother, with whom she identifies, but at the same time she has to distance herself from her mother in order to establish her independence.

How would you characterize Miss Emily? ›

A eccentric recluse, Emily is a mysterious figure who changes from a vibrant and hopeful young girl to a cloistered and secretive old woman. Devastated and alone after her father's death, she is an object of pity for the townspeople.

Why did Connie Macpherson become happy? ›

She became happy at the sight of the visitors. Connie thought that the visitor was her own husband, Jim Macpherson that's why she was happy.

Why did the author explain Connie? ›

Answer: The author wanted to hand over Jim's letter to Connie who was at a nursing home. ... She said to the author that she has been longing to hear to her husband's voice even though she reads his letters every day.

Did Connie's mom turn into a human? ›

Springer is the mother of Connie Springer and a resident in Ragako village. She was transformed into a Titan by Zeke during Wall Rose's supposed breach. After the Eldians lost the Power of the Titans, Ms. Springer was returned to human form.

Why does Connie finally agree to go with Arnold Friend at the end of the story? ›

Normally, the bond between mother and daughter is a sacred one. However, with Connie and her mother, it is anything but, and this is entirely due to Connie's fear of intimacy. This fear, this defense that Connie has developed, is another reason that she ends up with Arnold Friend in the end.

What mental illness does Emily have in A Rose for Emily? ›

Miss Emily suffers from schizophrenia because she shows symptoms of withdrawing from society. Throughout Emily's life, her aristocratic father the townspeople highly respected, kept Emily closed in believing no suitors are worthy enough for her.

What does Emily Grierson symbolize? ›

What does Emily Grierson symbolize? Emily Grierson is a symbol of the decline of the Old South. She represents the attempts of the Old South to resist the changes that resulted from Reconstruction.

Why is Emily called an idol? ›

Emily is compared to a monument or an idol as she represents a part of the town that has passed when the Confederates lost the Civil War. While it is remembered as part of history, it has been tarnished.

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