Joyce Carol Oates

Joyce Carol Oates was born in a small town in New York in 1938. Not much is mentioned about Oates’ childhood, other than her passion for writing that started early. She wrote many stories and even constructed short books in her elementary years. Oates tried to publish her first novel when she was fifteen, but was turned down because it was thought to be “too depressing” for children her age. Although there were many bumps along the road to becoming a great author, she is now rendered one of the most creative minds of her time. Oates has written many stories that are highly artistic, yet socially relevant for people even in this age. Oates was raised as a Roman Catholic, which can be seen throughout some of her writings. Of all of her writings,…

their parents can do no right, And where there once was adoration and admiration stands a new and powerful disrespect and distaste. This process is clearly seen in Joyce Carol Oates’ character, Connie, in…

In the narrative, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates, presents you with a look into the life of, Connie, the story’s main character. Connie was your typical rebel teen, she did not always tell the truth to her parents, snuck off to the beach, went out anytime any place, was free willed, and had a dysfunctional family life. “Smooth Talk” (1985) directed by Joyce Chopra, is the motion picture motivated by the narrative, which has a very similar take on the story, yet…

Growing up and being treated as an adult is a universal desire of adolescent children, however when it actually comes to maturation, many children shy away from the fact. Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” chronicles the experiences that young Connie has with growing up too fast. Connie’s rapid maturation is due to a mixture of self-esteem issues, the desire for attention of older boys, and peer pressure from friends. Coming of Age Too Early: Pubertal…

In the shorts story Where are You Going by Joyce Carol Oates then a 15 year old teenage gilr is kidnapped. The main person responsible for this kindkapping goes by the name of Arnold Friend. Arnold gave me an uneasy feeling. I felt as though he was psychotic and just striaght up creepy. Not only do I see very straight forward things that make me feel unfcomfortable about Arnold, But there are also subtle things that are off and seem suubspicious. FIrst off there is the obvious reason for my…

“Four Summers”, by Joyce Carol Oates is a multifaceted story written to illustrate the inevitable hopeless cycle of life that Sissie lives. Throughout the story, Oates hints that Sissie will unavoidably repeat the life of her mother. Oates writes the story to display Sissie’s life in four different summers, from four different stages of Sissie developing in to a woman. The separation of the four summers is critical to the story because it demonstrates Sissie’s maturation over the years and the…

A Story By Joyce Oates: A Dark Endless Road In Joyce Carol Oates story, “Where are your going, Where have you been?” it tells a short story about a fifteen-year old girl who is trying to find herself as a woman. Connie is constantly concerned with the way she looks and has a habit of “craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s faces…” (294). Connie realizes that she has the ability to attract boys by dressing and doing her hair a certain ways. She is discovering her own…

Joyce Carol Oates is an acclaimed writer has written many works that can relate to the everyday person. She writes in a way that causes people to think about their own lives. Her stories tend to connect. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a story of a promiscuous girl who is stuck between a rock and a hard place. “ Pumpkin Head” is a story of a seasoned woman who befriends a man who is mentally unstable when he drinks. Her works shows forth reality and the way some humans suffer in…

In Joyce Carol Oates’ Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been, the understanding or initial misunderstanding of characters, are pivotal to the reader’s roller coaster experience of the plot. The story revolves around the character of Connie, a fairly typical 15-year-old teenage girl, who comes to be confronted with a dangerous situation. This story and the character of Connie were particularly interesting and engrossing to me. As Oates illustrates Connie’s character and her motivations, I was…

Title Joyce Carol Oates ‘Where are you going, Where have you been?’ tells the story of a young girl searching for her identity among her mother and society. The protagonist Connie amist being at conflict with her family's view, spends her time flirting with boys and exploring her newfound independence. Connie is put in a difficult position when a boy, Arnold Friend, shows up at her doorstep. Throughout the story, Oates uses setting, point of view, and symbolism to convey the theme of the story.…