Comparing and Contrasting Fiction and Real Life:
The Character of Connie in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
by Joyce Carol Oates
The fate of the character of Connie in Joyce Carol Oates has always seemed particularly poignant to me, because she reminds me of one of my close friends from high school. Connie is a beautiful young woman who, for a brief period in her life, feels powerful because of the beauty she has and the hold it seems to give her over other people. She comes across as sexually aware and self-confident. But she looks much older than she is and when she attracts the attention of the wrong sort of man, it is implied that she comes to a tragic end at the conclusion of the story. Fortunately, my friend never met an Arnold Friend-style character. But she did often attract attention from older men. Because she did not want to hurt their feelings, she was afraid to strongly rebuff them.
The character of Connie in Oates’ story is admittedly less likeable than my friend. Connie has a less attractive older sister June. Unlike June, Connie refuses to help out at home and complains...
Works Cited
Oates, Joyce Carol. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Web. February 22, 2019.
https://www.cusd200.org/cms/lib/IL01001538/Centricity/Domain/361/oates_going.pdf
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