The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

Dossier / Travail de Séminaire , 2009 , 16 Pages , Note: 1,3

Philologie Américaine - Littérature

In the ‘coming-of-age story’ the major conflict of the story lies in the adult world. Rather than focusing on the change of the youth, in the latter story type the youth character is exposed to a confrontation with the adult world. In Oates’s story this confrontation consists of the fact that the youth world (Connie) is getting overpowered by the adult world (Arnold Friend).

At the beginning of the story, in the title, the reader is confronted with a twofold question pointing in two directions. “The very title of the story calls attention to duality: a future (where are you going) and a past (where have you been).” Therefore, in this term paper the following thesis will be examined: “The concept of duality is a basic feature of the ‘coming-of-age’ story.” It will be shown that in Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” one distinctive feature of creating the story type of the ‘coming-of-age’ story is the concept of duality. While following the twofold pattern of analyzing the representation of the youth world and the adult world, further major techniques of creating duality in Oates’s story will be discovered, such as irony, ambiguity, grotesque, parody, allusions, deception, and allegory.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates's "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
• The Youth World
• The Adult World
• Arnold Friend
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This term paper examines the concept of duality in Joyce Carol Oates's short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?". It argues that duality is a key feature of the 'coming-of-age' story and analyzes how Oates uses this concept to create a complex and unsettling narrative.

• The duality of the youth world and the adult world
• The ambiguity and deception of Arnold Friend
• The use of irony, grotesque, parody, and allegory to create duality
• The exploration of themes of identity, sexuality, and societal norms
• The critique of the American middle-class value system

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The story begins with a focus on Connie, a typical teenage girl who lives in a world of fantasy and dreams. She is torn between her desire to be "plain and steady" like her sister June and her yearning for excitement and adventure. Connie's identity is fragmented, and she is searching for a sense of self. This vulnerability makes her susceptible to the influence of Arnold Friend, a mysterious and manipulative figure who represents the dark side of the adult world.

The adult world in the story is characterized by its superficiality and lack of moral guidance. Connie's parents are weak and indifferent, and her sister June embodies the conventional middle-class values that Connie rejects. Arnold Friend, in contrast, offers Connie a glimpse of a different world, one that is both alluring and dangerous. He embodies the seductive power of rebellion and the potential for violence and destruction.

Arnold Friend is a complex and ambiguous character who uses deception and disguise to manipulate Connie. He represents the duality of the adult world, both its potential for love and its capacity for cruelty. His presence in the story highlights the dangers of blindly following one's desires and the importance of understanding the complexities of the world.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include duality, coming-of-age, identity, sexuality, societal norms, American middle-class, Arnold Friend, Joyce Carol Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", and the critique of American society.

• Université: University of Freiburg (Englisches Seminar)
• Cours: HS The Coming-of-Age Story in America
• Note: 1,3
• Auteur: Andreas Keilbach (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2009
• Pages: 16
• N° de catalogue: V131031
• ISBN (ebook): 9783640403790
• ISBN (Livre): 9783640404179
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Concept, Duality, Joyce, Carol, Oates’s, Going, Where, Have, Been