Research Paper on “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? is a story round a young female child named Connie who starts out being dilettanteish and selfish and ends up in a appall speckle she must accept unless she asks her family to be in the same horrifying situation. It is a terrible decision for a teenage girl to make, but she does, and she leaves with the mysterious Arnold genius. There are many different explanations and theories as to why she left with Arnold, what happened when he was at her house, and who Arnold Friend truly was. Joyce Carol Oates left Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? with multitudinous ideas about countless parts of the story. There are very(prenominal) heavy biblical theories about the nature of this story, and many thoughts on Connies teenage promiscuity and her take for granted rape at the end of the story. The story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? is generally assumed to be very complex, with many interpretations of the storys ingeminate references to church building and religion, the mysterious code on Arnold Friends car, and the curious nature of Arnold Friend himself.
It is made obvious that Connie has no true religious background, and she recognizes it but doesnt mind. That is made crystallise when Connie references to the fact her family doesnt go to church.



One Sunday Connie for up at eleven no(prenominal) of them b separateed with church. . . (Oates 586). Some critics cerebrate that this could be the ultimate cause of her downfall. The fact that Connies interaction with Friend occurs on a Sunday but none of [the family] bothered with church leaves her vulnerable and suggests that religion could . . . provide physiological if not spiritual protection (Caldwell). Caldwell continues this thought, saying Although all the other members of Connies family go to a picnic, an activity that could replace . . . church attendance, Connie does not attend either . . . This seems to be a sound point at first, but remembering the fact that Arnold knew...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Ordercustompaper.com



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