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.
Table of Contents
1. The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
1.1 The youth world
1.2 The adult world
1.3 Arnold Friend as an ambiguous and twofold figure
1.3.1 First level: Deception and outer appearance
1.3.2 Second level: Language, speech, and voice
1.3.3 Third level: The music theme
1.3.4 Fourth level: Religious allegory
1.3.5 Fifth level: Duality among critics
Objectives & Core Topics
This paper examines the thesis that the concept of duality is a fundamental feature of the coming-of-age story, specifically within Joyce Carol Oates’s "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?". It investigates how this duality is manifested through the conflict between the youth and adult worlds, the characterization of the antagonist, and the use of symbolic devices.
- The representation of youth versus adult world dynamics.
- The concept of duality as an analytical framework for coming-of-age literature.
- The characterization of Arnold Friend through disguise, language, and religious allegory.
- The function of popular culture and music as vehicles for seduction and transformation.
- A critical discussion of scholarly interpretations regarding Arnold Friend's identity.
Excerpt from the Book
The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, first published in 1966, has often been read as a ‘story of initiation’. According to Freese, a ‘story of initiation’ is characterized by the fact that the initiate undergoes an irreversible, existential change. However, this definition can be criticized in two points. First, it is based on the plot. Second, this story type solely focuses on the young person’s development. It takes the society as the status quo and demands transformation and change from the young protagonist only. Thus, the burden of the problem is put on the youth.
In contrast, a fairly different story type, the ‘coming-of-age story’, will be favored in order to analyze the story. 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). As a consequence, the ending of the story implies strong criticism of society in general where violence, brutality and inhumanity are prevalent. In Sullivan’s words the story “is an interlude of terror: it builds fearfully toward a violence so unspeakable that it must happen offstage.”
Summary of Chapters
1. The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”: This chapter introduces the theoretical distinction between a 'story of initiation' and a 'coming-of-age story', establishing the core thesis that duality is the defining feature of Oates's work.
1.1 The youth world: This section explores Connie's split identity and the role of popular culture in her internal development and vulnerable state.
1.2 The adult world: This analysis focuses on the weakness of the parental figures and the failure of the American middle-class to provide moral guidance.
1.3 Arnold Friend as an ambiguous and twofold figure: This part argues that Arnold represents a complex, twofold entity that embodies both temptation and existential threat.
1.3.1 First level: Deception and outer appearance: This section discusses how Arnold uses costume and performance to mimic youth culture.
1.3.2 Second level: Language, speech, and voice: This subsection examines how Arnold’s borrowed slang and rhythmic speech patterns serve as his camouflage.
1.3.3 Third level: The music theme: This section details the function of music as a link between Connie and Arnold, citing specific references to Bob Dylan.
1.3.4 Fourth level: Religious allegory: This analysis investigates how numbers and biblical allusions evoke ambiguity and reinforce the threat Arnold poses.
1.3.5 Fifth level: Duality among critics: This chapter reviews conflicting scholarly perspectives on whether Arnold serves a positive or negative function in the story.
Keywords
Duality, Coming-of-age, Joyce Carol Oates, Connie, Arnold Friend, Symbolism, Initiation, Middle-class values, Deception, Allegory, Music, Bob Dylan, Biblical allusions, Postmodern literature, Identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how the concept of duality functions as a core structural and thematic feature of the coming-of-age story within Joyce Carol Oates's short story.
What are the central thematic fields explored in the text?
Key themes include the confrontation between youth and the adult world, the breakdown of family moral structures, the role of popular music as a seduction tool, and the use of religious and secular allegories.
What is the author's research question?
The author seeks to prove that duality is not merely a stylistic device in Oates's story but a fundamental element that defines the coming-of-age narrative and exposes the violence inherent in the adult world.
Which scientific methodology is utilized in this study?
The study employs a literary analysis approach, utilizing comparative reading, textual evidence, and the examination of scholarly critical discourse to support its thesis.
What is the subject matter of the main chapters?
The main body investigates the characterization of Connie and the adult world, followed by a multi-level analysis of the antagonist, Arnold Friend, focusing on his appearance, speech, music usage, and allegorical significance.
Which keywords define the scholarly scope of this work?
Key terms include duality, identity, coming-of-age, symbolic deception, religious allegory, and the critical interpretation of postmodern characters.
How does the author characterize Arnold Friend?
The author characterizes Arnold Friend as an ambiguous, twofold trickster figure who adopts teenage personas to manipulate and overpower the protagonist.
Why are references to Bob Dylan songs significant in the analysis?
The references demonstrate how Oates links the fictional narrative to the external "real" world, using Dylan's lyrics to underscore the protagonist's vulnerability and the author's social criticism.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Keilbach (Author), 2009, The Concept of Duality in Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/131031
