Only Skin Deep
In today's society, value always seems to be placed upon certain externalqualities such as beauty and riches. Unfortunately, one's inner beauty isoften overlooked. In the short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" reflections seem to be a key element in the portrayal of a person's true character. Joyce Oates uses Connie's own reflections in mirrors, sunglasses, and shadows to convey the message that outward appearances are ultimately in vain, for while outward beauty is fleeting, Connie, a fifteen year old self absorbed teenage girl is concerned withonly two things in life, being beautiful and boys. She's so enthralled in her
" Connie is so consumed by her vanity that she totally ignores her family and in the same since, God as well. Another key element of reflections is the mirrored image in Arnold Friend's sunglasses. Connie's mother, however, is always comparing the two girls in everything, and no matter what Connie does, she always seems to be a dark reflection of her sister. The image which the sunglasses portray is one of miniature, which could be implying a meaning of less significance. When Connie sees her own reflection in miniature, I can't help but notice the symbolization that is being shown. When people are blinded by their own vanity, they cease to see what's truly beautiful, not only about themselves, but in others as well. Her sister June, on the other hand, is a seemingly perfect model according to Connie's mother. Even though she isn't happy in her own life, every time she finds a mirror she's swept away into some "trashy daydream. Although June isn't as pretty as Connie, she conducts herself in a matter that suggests that she portrays a young woman of good character and inner beauty. By showing the outside of a person in miniature it is depicting that the external features of a person are small in comparison to one's inner beauty. She utterly despises her sister June for being so "boring" and doesn't want to be anything like her. In conclusion, I feel as if the symbolization of reflections and mirrored images in this story holds one ultimately important message that beauty isonly skin deep. A major statement that is being made is that appearances should not be the focus of life. So we see that Connie is totally enthralled by her ownappearance, and even though she's more beautiful, she's always a dark reflection of her moral sister June.
Common topics in this essay:
Oates Connie's,
Arnold Friend's,
Skin Deep,
inner beauty,
sister june,
skin deep,
arnold friend's sunglasses,
friend's sunglasses,
one's inner beauty,
arnold friend's,
reflections mirrored,
one's inner,
key element,
external features,
connie's mother,
|
Acceptance Essays
