Where Are You Going Where have you been theme analysis?

Where Are You Going Where have you been theme analysis?

The main themes of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” are appearance versus reality, the embodiment of evil, and self-sacrifice. Appearance vs. reality: Both Connie and Arnold have two-sided natures, presenting an appealing self when necessary and withholding another.

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been symbolism?

In American culture and literature the car has long been a symbol of freedom and independence. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” it is notable that men drive and women are passengers. When Arnold Friend offers to take Connie for a ride, he is seeking to gain control over her and her movements.

Where Are You Going Where have you been feminist analysis?

The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates can be interpreted from a feminist perspective. There are many parts of the story that seem to symbolize the oppression of women. The story symbolizes the exploitation of women by men, and how women allow themselves to be controlled.

Why did Connie go with Arnold friend?

Connie’s fear of intimacy leads her to retreat emotionally even from the person she should be the closest to: her mother. Her insecurity, her low self-esteem, and her fear of intimacy all aid her in her unconscious decision to leave her house and go with the devious Arnold Friend in his gold convertible jalopy.

What do the numbers on Arnold friend’s car mean?

When Connie asks him what the stuff painted on his car means, Arnold goes through the various sayings and eventually comes to the numbers 33,19, 17. He tells Connie, “Now, these numbers are a secret code, honey” (1007).

How is Arnold Friend the Devil?

Arnold Friend clearly symbolizes the devil through his physical traits, his knowledge of Connie, and his power over her kind of like he was hypnotizing her to go with him. First, Arnold Friend’s physical traits portray him as Satan.

Is Arnold Friend real?

Oates has described how she based the character of Arnold Friend on the real life serial killer, Charles Schmid, who also wore makeup and stuffed his boots in order to alter his appearance, and was known for preying on teenage girls—taking three of their lives in Tuscon, Arizona the 1960s.

What does Arnold friend want Connie?

Arnold Friend: A mysterious figure who visits Connie while her family is not at home and continuously demands that Connie to get in the car and go on a ride with him. She does everything that her family asks of her, and is doted on by their mother.

Why is Connie’s sister June included in the story?

Having June as a sort of foil or point of comparison to Connie is important to establish Connie’s sense of her place in the family structure; just as Connie compares herself to her friends or other girls in her school.

What does Connie represent in the story?

Many critics have interpreted Arnold Friend as a symbol of some larger idea or force, such as the devil, death, or sexuality. Connie, also, has been said to represent many things: Eve, troubled youth, or spiritually unenlightened humanity.

What does Ellie Oscar represent?

“Ellie” is a name which could easily be read as “Ally”. His last name, Oscar, has Irish roots just as Connie’s does, “Os” is a prefix which means “deer”, while “cara” means “friend”. Taken together, the phrase sounds like “dear friend.”

What is the meaning behind Arnold friend and Ellie Oscar’s names in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

What is the meaning behind Ellie Oscar’s name in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Ellie is more typically a woman’s name, while Oscar is a man’s name. As Arnold Friend’s sidekick, he is told multiple times to move because Connie is Arnold’s date, and she will sit in his spot in the car.

How would you describe Connie in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

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.

What type of character is Connie in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

Fifteen-year-old Connie is a stereotypical teenage girl: rebellious, superficial, and vain, she often lies to her mother about where she’s going and where she’s been.

How does Connie change in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

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.

Who is the antagonist in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

Arnold Friend

Is Connie a static or dynamic character?

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.

What does the story say about physical beauty and the way it is regarded by society?

Oates might be saying that the idea of physical beauty as dictated by society is one realm where victimization is inevitable for either one is adhering to norms in which they lack control or they will always be forced to chase an unattainable ideal.

Are beauty standards important?

Beauty ideals are heavily implemented within our society, especially within the media telling us how we’re all supposed to look. Due to beauty ideals many women often end up being dissatisfied with what they see in the mirror.

How does the media affect our perception of beauty?

The media can greatly affect young people’s health. The media broadcasts it’s perception of what is attractive and young people (both men and women) are susceptible to feeling the effects of that. Women are airbrushed on the cover of magazines to hide flaws. This creates and unrealistic and unhealthy image of beauty.

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