We have read or heard many stories throughout our lives. We know that stories can vary in purpose: They can either teach a moral lesson or entertain. Some stories interest us; others do not. In order for a story to be interesting, it must be told in a way that does not bore or confuse the reader. This story must have elements that attenuate to a central purpose. These elements (setting, character, plot, point of view, symbol, theme, etc.) forge the thoughts and ideas of the author. Joyce Carol Oates' "Stalking" tells the tale of a young girl growing up in modern suburbia. "Stalking" is a critical review of modern American society and shows the detrimental effects that it can have on a young child. The main character in this story is stalking the "Invisible Adversary", who is the personification of the neglect that she has received in her life. In order to send this message to the reader, Oates emphasizes the point of view of the main character, plot, and setting in her short story "Stalking".
             The narrator of "Stalking" is omniscient as she follows the main character, Gretchen, throughout a city. She shows us that Gretchen is anti-social: "If forced, she takes part in games (Oates 162)" and "she just stands around, her face empty, her arms crossed and her shoulders a little slumped (162)". We also see that Gretchen is oblivious: "Gretchen waits until [traffic] is nearly clear...a single car is approaching." (Oates 161) and she plods "through a jumbled, bulldozed field of mud and thistles and debris that is mainly rocks and chunks of glass" (162). Although the narrator visually guides us on this journey, she also lets us into the mind of Gretchen - we see things from Gretchen's point of view. Thoughts of "I'll get you (Oates
             161)...Out of my way...You'll be sorry for that..."(162) shows us that Gretchen is an...