Where are You Going Where Have you Been and a and P
Most people in society hold a stereotypical conception of most teenagers. Many individuals have the notion that all teenagers act before they really think of the consequences of what they are exactly getting themselves into. They think teenagers are self-centered and only care about the opposite sex, which can be true. All young people must someday grow up and realize that the choices they make will one day affect them in the future. They must make the transition from adolescents into adults. Authors of literature also can portray all of these ideas in their literary works. They may also use certain literary devices and writing techniques to further emphasize these views. These views are shown in two short stories that tell the tale of teenagers who make very crucial, life changing decisions without really considering the consequences of their actions. In "A and P," written by John Updike, a nineteen year old male named of Sammy quits his job to impress three girls in bathing suits, to later realize that he does not know what is in store for him in the future. In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" written by Joyce Carol Oates, fifteen year old Connie is taken away her home and her
family to run off with a strange man in a gold car to start a new life she knows nothing about. "Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home" (380). However, later in the story, Oates suddenly projects an image of terror when Arnold Friend arrives at Connie's doorstep. Her only refuge from her confining home life is nights out with her best friends, eating and spending time flirting with young boys her age. Sammy is also distracted when "in walks these three girls with nothing but bathing suits" (485). Joyce Carol Oates uses very unique writing techniques in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" The story is written in limited point of view in the third person. Both of these short stories portray the transition from adolescence to adulthood, by making the main characters out to be "normal" teenagers. He shuts down his register and leaves, his reason being that his manager "didn't have to embarrass [the girls]" (489). This is the only time she really feels accepted. The reader is allowed to hear what Connie is feeling, making her the focal point and heroine of the story. Connie is taken by Arnold at the end of the story, an ending that surprises the reader and Connie. She is often compared to her older sister, June, who in her mother's perspective is the perfect daughter. Connie does not have much of a choice except to have Arnold take her.
Common topics in this essay:
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Arnold Friend,
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Acceptance Essays
