Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Response Paper?
Essay by Dam1998 • December 7, 2015 • Book/Movie Report • 597 Words (3 Pages) • 1,294 Views
Anthony Dam
Ms. Davinroy
AP Literature
October 24th, 2015
Response: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
- Theme
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” Joy Carol Oates establishes conflict within Connie by emphasizing maturity. This topic is crucial because the significance of maturity is forced throughout the story and eventually leads to Connie being pressured and ultimately caved in by Arnold’s words. At the beginning of the story, Connie is fifteen and she has an obsession with her outward appearance and tries to act older than she really is. Since she is fifteen, she should not really be “ducking fast across the busy road, to a drive-in restaurant where the older kids hung out.”(361). Connie, very frequently, forces her maturity and tries to act beyond her teenage years and even going to great lengths to become part of the older group. Even though she tries to be more mature, she ultimately becomes prey for Arnold and subsequently gives in to Arnold at the end of the story. Even though it is not uncommon for teens to find a sense of growth into a more mature being, maturity is sometimes overlooked. Maturity is not forced, but acquired through time and experience. Joy Carol Oates creates the conflict of maturity through psychological factors, environmental factors, and Connie’s actions. What can be said is that maturity is not supposed to be forced, but eventually grasped through time and experience and if maturity is forced, then the outcome becomes unfavorable and ultimately detrimental to one’s self.
- Questions
Level 1: What is the story of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” based on?
Level 2: Why does Joy Carol Oates use a pattern of cumulative and simple sentences?
Level 3: Is sexuality, maturity, and independence worth the cost of losing individual traits such as innocence, worth, and attachment?
- Literary Techniques and Devices
Text | Technique or Device | Explanation of Effect | How does this particular effect help create theme? |
“She watched herself push the doorway slowly open as if she were safe beck somewhere in the other doorway…”(376). | Symbolism | Character | The symbolism of the door could be used to symbolize Connie’s step into adulthood and thus create the theme of maturity. |
“…ducking fast across the busy road, to a drive-in restaurant where the older kids hung out.”(361). | Foreshadow | Plot | Foreshadowing could be uses in this case to show how Connie’s forced maturity leads her to an undesirable outcome. |
“…she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it were something Arnold Friend were stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness.”(374). | Simile | Plot | The plot in this case can be used by initiating the topic of rape and how women are unfortunately objects of desire which lead to the theme of sexuality. |
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