Question

‘‘Where are you Going’’ by Joyce Carol Oates. What is life like for women in Joyce Carol Oates' portrayal of mid-century America? Explain the significance of the story’s original title: “Death and the Maiden.” Also include analysis of Plot setting and major characters and Themes and writing style.

Answer 1

Life like for women in Joyce Carol Oates' portrayal of mid-century America is -

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" is set in rural American during the 60s, a world changing with the sexual transformation, yet still in a general sense traditionalist. There is no solidarity between the ladies in Joyce Carol Oates story; they enchant at scrutinizing and picking at each other. Ladies likewise need huge power over their lives. In the story just men, never ladies, are seen driving, an action broadly observed to symbolize autonomy and control in American culture. The model for womanhood is as yet constrained, portrayed in the story by the frump and residential June. However new social ideal models are opening up an a lot more extensive world with new revulsions for young ladies like Connie. Arnold Friend originates from this new world yet the risk he speaks to, that of male centric brutality and control, is an a lot more established one.

-The significance of the story’s original title: “Death and the Maiden":

Death and the Maiden" Refers to a Western European custom of stories, plays, canvases, and sonnets portraying the gathering among death and a young lady, just as her unavoidable and in some cases fierce enticement. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" works as an advanced illustration mirroring this convention. Whenever passing, here exemplified by Arnold Friend, desires the advanced lady Connie, she is at first inquisitive, intrigued by the consideration she is accepting from a more established man. However she is hesitant and at last frightened by the ramifications of Arnold Friend's temptation; it is just through extraordinary enthusiastic, and maybe physical viciousness, that Connie assents to death's requests. This title unequivocally underpins the perusing that Arnold Friend speaks to death, the fallen angel, or some other extraordinary and malicious being.

- Significance of the story's plot setting, real characters and subject are-

The setting of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" is both explicit and unclear. The time and spot stay equivocal; commentators have commonly set the story's activity in the late 1950s and mid 1960s while the story's area can't be bound to much else explicit than the suburbs. This vagueness gives the story a widespread significance. However an unmistakable feeling of spot poses a potential threat in the story. Joyce Carol Oates portrays in detail another rural, American youth culture; one with rituals (treks to the sacrosanct burger joint), pecking orders (the significance of magnificence), and icons (reckless well known music). The strife of mid-century America, with changing beliefs about sexuality and sex, have bothered conventional standards and opened up an energizing and alarming world for youngsters. Arnold Friend's predation occurs inside this new and explicit setting.