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“Where are you Going, where have you Been” by Joyce Carol Oates (1966)

Her name was Connie. She was fifteen and she had a quick, nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right. Her mother, who noticed everything and knew everything and who hadn’t much reason any longer to look at her own face, always scolded Connie about it. “”Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty?”” she would say. Connie would raise […]

Self-esteem, Reputation and a General Mindset in “Where are you Going, where have you Been?”

The story that will be evaluated is entitled, “”Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”” This story is by Joyce Carol Oates, published in 1966. The author is trying to get the audience to grasp concepts such as self-esteem, reputation, and a general mindset of how our decision making process can effect us heavily. Through the main character Connie, we learn about how mind-bottling life can be as she goes about her day-to-day activities. The story, “”Where Are You […]

The Main Characters Connie and Arnold in “Where are you Going, where have you Been”

“In the short story, “”Where are you going, Where have you been,”” Connie and Arnold Friend are the main characters who portray the struggles of differentiating fantasy and reality. Connie is a typical fifteen-year-old teenage girl that is rebellious towards her family and mainly cares about her appearance. Along with her appearance, she listens to a lot of pop music that talks about love and romance which gives her a skewed idea of what love is supposed to be. When […]

Feminism, Civil Rights, Sexual Freedom in “Where are you Going, where have you Been”

The short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates highlights the female stereotypes of the era through the protagonist Connie. The story is set in the 1960s, which was a time of great change in America. Topics like feminism, civil rights, sexual freedom, etc. were only just starting to gain momentum in what was still a deeply conservative society. Connie was a naive teenager trying to navigate her way to adulthood in a time […]

Critical Plot Twist in “Where are you Going, where have you Been”

The story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates is a baffling article because the author creates a critical plot twist that no one could have predicted. Connie was arrogant and conceited because she was gorgeous, and she knew her looks could seduce even the most unsuspecting stranger. Connie was only a teenager, but she had developed herself to appear mature with the capability of attracting even the most seasoned man. One-night Connie was with […]

Joyce Carol Oates “Where are you Going where have you Been” a Feminist Critique

Joyce Carol Oates short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been showcases the female stereotypes of the time through the protagonist Connie. The story is set in the 1960s, which was a time of great change in America. Topics like feminism, civil rights, sexual freedom, etc. were only just beginning to emerge in what was still a fundamentally conservative society. Connie was a naive teenager trying to navigate her way to adulthood in a time when women were […]

Patriarchal Domination in “Where are you Going where have you Been”

With good looks and sweet charm, men are able to win women over in a heartbeat. Why are men able to do this? Because women believe that they need basic human needs such as love and companionship to live. As you read through the short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, you notice Connie has issues of building a stable relationship with her family, which is shown through her personality. She seeks out […]

Analysis of “Where are you Going where have you Been” by Joyce Carol Oates

“In her short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Joyce Carol Oates tells a rather disturbing tale of a vain teenaged girl and a mysterious man. This narrative truly showcases Oates’s brilliant writing style and the characters in this work are deeply fascinating. All the main characters in this short story represent something more than they appear at surface level and the interpretations of these characters by literary scholars vary greatly. The characters and what they mean […]

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Essays