Our last reading of the semester is a literary analysis by Wegs of Oates' short story "Where are you going, where have you been?" In this article, Wegs offers a number of detailed interpretations of the characters and events in the story. Choose 2-3 of Wegs' interpretations which you found particularly enlightening/helpful and explain why you chose them.
Friday, January 2, 2009
15."Don't you know who I am?" (last assignment)
Our last reading of the semester is a literary analysis by Wegs of Oates' short story "Where are you going, where have you been?" In this article, Wegs offers a number of detailed interpretations of the characters and events in the story. Choose 2-3 of Wegs' interpretations which you found particularly enlightening/helpful and explain why you chose them.
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“By the time that Arnold asks, “Don’t you know who I am?” Connie realizes that it is no longer a simple question of whether he is a “jerk” or someone worth her attention but of just how crazy he is” . Here’s a good point, she is stressing out the climax of the story and helps us to understand Connie’s mood and fear at that moment. (Paragraph 1)
“Full of puzzling and perverse longings, the heart persists in mixing lust and love, life and death, good and evil” . she’s enlightening us about the conflicts and contradictions within Connie’s heart and mind. She wants to listen to her heart and have intimacy with Arnold, while she’s overhearing her mind saying that she’d better stay away from him as he’s dangerous. (Paragraph 8)
Sonja, that's question 7 in Oates' criticism Questions, which you said we'll be busy with in our next class. I am sorry, I don't understand the point in repeating a homework question on the blog.
Well of course I know that it's Question 7 - it was a discussion question which asked students to underline interesting interpretations and be prepared to discuss them. Now I am asking students to write their answers. So again this assignment is designed to extend and reinforce what we have done in class. Speaking and writing are very different kills and in any case, not all students will have a chance to offer their interpretations in our limited class time.
I hope that makes sense.
sorry, *skills*
Congratulations by the way, you are the first student to finish all the blog assignments!! (applause)
Thanks for your hard work...
thx :)
SECONDDD :))
“Yes, I am your lover. You don’t know what that is but you will. I know that too. I know all about you. But look: it’s real nice and you couldn’t ask for nobody better than me, or more polite. I always keep my word. I’ll tell you how it is, I’m always nice at first, the first time. I’ll hold you so tight you won’t think you have to try to get away or pretend anything because you’ll know you can’t. And I’ll come inside you where it’s all secret and you’ll give in to me and you’ll love me. Arnold Friend said.” Here he shows how psycho he is. How a person can imagine such inhuman things. Maybe he is a semi killer and have thoughts about it in his mind.
“We’ll go out to a nice field, out in the country here where it smells so nice and it’s sunny. I’ll have my arms tight around you so you won’t need to try to get away and I’ll show you what love is like, what it does. Arnold friend said.” We see that he had already made his plan and want to drag her into it. We see how he strongly wants her and also wants it to become reciprocal.
at the beginning of the story it is said; "Connie would raise her eyebrows at these familiar old complaints and look right through her mother, into a shadowy vision of herself as she was right at that moment: she knew she was pretty and that was everything." This phrase is a good point to show to the readers Connie is a self-confidence girl or at least she thinks she is. She do not bother her mother's words about vice-versa.
"She recognized ...that sleepy dreamy smile that all the boys used to get across ideas they didn't want to put into words". Here, writer might be emphasizing that at first, Connie thinks Arnold friend is just an ordinary boy who acts like anybody else who cannot say something. Therefore, it is possible she cannot understand the devil-spirit of him.
"She began to scream into the phone, into the roaring. She cried out, she cried for her mother." When Connie pick up the phone, she is seeking for her mother's help first. In my opinion, though she is struggling with her mom always, she trusts and wants her the most. It is also a very crucial point to evaluate Connie's fragile character.
'' In fact, her mother's acid question as she sees Connie at her favorite activity of mirror-gazing- who care you? You think you are so pretty? also introduce the converse of this idea namely, that those who lack physical beauty have no identity. As does must everything in the story, everything about Connie has ''two sides to it''. This interpretation is very significant to explain how Connie confused about passing girlhood to womanhood.She try to affect other people by using her appearance.Also she wraps herself to different roles like friend,sister, young woman etc however she faces some problems to find her real role which represents her truly.
''It is the music which is always in the background like music at a church service that has invested this ''bright-lit'', ''fly infested'' place with such significance''. Also it is another crucial point to underline importance of music in this story because many images and symbols are given by writer related to music. In this way, writer aims to give readers insights to understand Connie, because she believes that everything in life is similar in songs and music is integral part of her. Also this situation makes her unable to see real life and Arnold.
''The story undoubtedly has moral dimension, Oates does not take a judgmental attitude toward Connie. In fact much of terror of the story comes from the recognition that there must be thousands of Connies.Connie's parents who seem quite typical have disqualified themselves as moral guides for her''. Finally I find this comment important because it emphasizes roots of Connie's problems or confusions like other adolescents. Family relations and figures of parents have important impact on young generation. Connie who is a typical teenager, has not good relationship with her family, because her mother always compares her with her sister June and also her father has little communication with her.In this way she tries to find her own way by herself, her family are defective to be moral guide for her life.
I just want to clarify the assignment instructions a little bit - you should be choosing *Wegs'* interpretations of the story. In Wegs' article, she analyses various parts of the story. Which of these analyses did you find most helpful? Ahmet and Görkem, I think you have just taken quotes from the story itself.
Thanks.
'' Bobby King?'' she said.
'' I listen to him all the time.I think he is great'' he replied.
'' He is kind of great.'' Connie said reluctantly.
''Listen, that guy's great.He knows where the action is''. At that moment, Connie blushed a little but the sun glasses made it impossible for her to see what this boy is looking at.
Here we could easily realize the hesitation of Connie about the boy. She could not decide how she must behave to this boy. On the one hand, she does not want to talk with boy, on the other hand the boy invokes every way in order to affect and charm her.
The reason why I had chosen this dialogue and interpretation is that it is like a summary of whole text. Girl has uncertain moods regarding boy, whereas boy does everything to make her impressed by him.
''I took a special interesting you such a pretty girl'' and '' we ain't leaving until you come with us''
Through these sentences it is clear that the boy is in purpose with making her convinced in order to accept his offer. As speaking like a brave individual who expresses his feeling without considering the negative outcomes of his expressions, he wants to be admired by Connie. However it does not seem like that.
Here the author enlightens us to show the stubbornness and determination of boy who tries to persuade girl to be with him.
First of all, I would like to say it is a hard and very detailed literary analysis from Wegs.
"...to Connie and her mother, real value lies in beauty." (3rd paragraph) In here, Wegs discuss the beauty obsession of teenage girls, but also mentions the particular situation in Connie's family. As much as Connie, her mother too is a beauty obsessed and her mother prefers her sister because she is prettier. That is why their relationship depends on arguments.
Wegs also accuses her father by not being a regular father. ".. he does not 'bother talking much' to his family, he can hardly ask the crucial parental questions, 'Where are you going?' or 'Where have you been?'.
In conclusion, both the story and the literary analysis show that changing values and loss of interest of parents over their children would be a breakdown for family ties.
first I want to say that this text was so hard to understnd because it has lots of detail so I agree with derya:)
as Wegs mentioned that music is important for teens like Connie. she found herself in music lyrics( in sixth paragraph) and also she always listens mucis when she is doing something. and this music sytle reflects her lifeform. to illustrate in text that "...when she is home alone, listening to music and drying her hair..." ı took that because ı really belive music reflects peoples life sytle. as we can look someone who is listening rock or heavy metal I saw that these people are almost rebelliuos and their music lyrics also rebellious.
Melisa, you're ignoring the fact that Heavy Metal can have soothing effects. :)
DEAR STUDENTS,
I KNOW THIS IS THE LAST BLOG ASSIGNMENT, BUT LET ME REMIND YOU THAT YOU NEED TO READ MY FEEDBACK AT ALL TIMES. SOME OF YOU CONTINUE TO MISUNDERSTAND THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. YOU ARE ANALYSING *WEGS*, NOT THE STORY ITSELF. THIS IS GIVING ME PROOF THAT YOU DON'T ACTUALLY READ THE PREVIOUS COMMENTS BEFORE POSTING...THANK YOU...
"Although the story undoubtedly has a moral dimension, Oates does not take a judgmental attitude towards Connie. In fact much of the terror of the story comes from the recognition that there must be thousands of Connies" Parapgraph 4
I think this paragraph contains the most crucial argument in whole Wegs analyses. Because Connie is not just a character remains in the story but she and girls like her are actually live among us. (although from this definition a reader may spread out an idea that Connie is an alien) But the thing is that Connie may be alone in her world but there are other girls pretty similar to Connie live in their worlds all alone.
"Oates' teenage protagonist discovers that her dream love-god also wears the face of lust, evil and death." (Pharagraph 1) This passage points of the differences in definition of good and evil between adolescence and family.
"Although the story undoubtedly has a moral dimension, Oates does not take a judgmental attitude toward Connie. In fact much of the terror of the story comes from the recognition that there must be thousands of Connies. By careful including telltale phrases, Oates demonstrates in an understated fashion why Connies exist. Connie's parents, who seem quite typical, have disqualified themselves as moral guide for her." (P.3) I think that this passage contradicts in itself. Because the author certainly judges Connie's lifestyle, it doesn't show it as a good example but as a bad one. He just doesn't hold Connie responsible for the lifestyle, as he thinks that she is a result of her peripheral. The author judges Connie's adolescent lifestyle, he just doesn't hold her responsible.
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values are hers also. Oates does not include the lyrics to any popular songs here, for any observer of contemporary America could surely discern the obvious link between Connie's high esteem for romantic love and youthful beauty and the lyrics of scores of hit tunes." This passage describes both the reliance of the author's on the reader's foreknowledge of American Music Industry. It is also important as it shows the importance of music in defining and shaping Connie's character. A Connie without Music would be a character, which lacked motives and reasoning for her behaviors.
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values hers also. Oates does not include the lyrics to any popular songs here, for any observer of contemporary America could surely discern the obvious link between Connie's high esteem for romantic love and youthful beauty and the lyrics of scores of hit tunes." It is the first sentence of 5th paragraph. It shows us Oates doesn't use the popular songs and with this quotation I remember the using of "religion" like this.
The other thing that Wegs uses is "she cannot 'help but look back'" or "she cannot 'help but' look about happily". I find this helpful for using in my next essays.
'In all her fiction as in the story, she frequently employs a debased religious imagery to suggest the gods which modern society has substituted for conventional religion' I think this sentence in the second paragraph is a good summary of what Connie does and why she does them during the story. she starts believing in what society directs her to and the origin of idea that '...those who lack physical beauty have no identity' (paragraph 8) is again the same thing.
I also liked how she finished her article '...there is a moral connection between the two questions: where Connie goes is related to where she has been'
Sorry all for the misunderstanding, now they are all related with Joyce M. Wegs article
Arnold is dressed up like he is an “ideal teenage dream”. With that he can’t even walk properly maybe because he is also adult or maybe because how extra ordinary is that dressing style even which youth generation is not still adopted. (Not true for all of them of course)
Music represented as a “mystical character” of youth generation. First of all we see how Connie highly interested in music when she stays at home alone. Also when we handle Arnold Friend we see he tries to change his speech and it is like “not his own”. The reason is he just wants to show himself cool and like one of them. With that he transforms and adopts his speech like a jokey.
"Connie's father plays a small role in her life, but by paralleling repeated phrases, Oates suggest that this is precisely the problem."(p.2) There is lack of communication between Connie and her parents. As Wegs said, we can not see father in the story frequently. It is an interesting way to show the problems between Connie and her family by hiding the character.
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values are hers also." (p.2) Music is a very important factor in the story as it was mentioned in every part of text. Music symbolizes Connie's faiths and religion as Wegs says. Arnold symbolizes satan and his aim is to destroy her values by taking her from home. Whenever Connie goes with him, she loses her identity which she tries to find.
I agree with Melisa and Derya. Text is hard to read and understand since there are a lot of new words and concepts like “grotesque” and Christian story; Sodom and Gomorrah.
“However, Arnold is much more than a grotesque portrait of a psychopathic killer masquerading as a teenager; he also has all the sinister traits of arch-deceiver and source of grotesque terror, the devil.… When Arnold comes up the drive, her first glance makes Connie believe that a teenage boy in jalopy, the central figure of religion, has arrived; therefore, she murmurs “Christ, Christ” as she wonders about her newly-washed hair looks. When the car- parodied golden chariot?- stops, a horn sounds “ as if this signal Connie knew.” On one level, the horn honks to be announce the “second coming” of Arnold, a demonic Day of Judgment....” (Paragraph 3)
It is so interesting to integrate this religious ideas and grotesque figures like that. Before I read it I have never think about Arnold’s horn symbolizes signal of Day of Judgment.
“Connie’s father plays a small role in her life, but by paralleling phrases, Oates suggests that this is precisely the problem. Because… he can hardly ask the crucial parental question “Where are you going?” or “where have you been?”(paragraph 7)
As Wegs interprets, Connie’s father and mother does not interested in her so much. It does not look like a problem for Connie but when Arnold says I will kill your family, Connie fears so much, it can be seen that she loves her family. Maybe she talked with Arnold because she feels lonely and her family devalued her.
Firstly, i am really impressed by Wegs' interpretations about religious signs like Connie sees going to the drive-in restaurant as a religious pilgrimage and show the music in the restaurant as a church service music. Also, she says Connie sees the music as her religion as the music explains her values. When i read the text i never thought of that side of the story so when i read Wegs' article it made me go 'wow!' and enlightened me about the signs and the role music plays in the story.
Secondly, i had never thought of the relationship between the story and Bob Dylan like the story represents a ballad of him in which a demon lover carries away his helpless victim. Actually i was not even aware that the story was dedicated to him so reading this interpretation impressed me.
I liked the last paragraph because it summarized everything perfectly.. This sentence was really nice because it included the effects of psychology which played a great role in the story:
"By adding modern psychological insights, she succeeds in revealing the complex nature of the victim of a grotesque intrusion by an alien force; on one level, the victim actually welcomes and invites this demonic visitation."
Also this one was a bit enlightening for me because I haven't realized this while reading the story:
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values are hers also. Oates does not include the lyrics to any popular songs here, for any observer of contemporary America could surely discern the obvious link between Connie's high esteem for romantic love and youthful beauty and the lyrics of scores of hit tunes."
at first the thing is not like that which we understood text at the first time. to be more spesific connie seems not to love her family but when arnold threatens her to come with him, connie rejected arnold and arnold threatened connie to kill her family. connie loves her family actually. but she talked with arnold due to feeling lonely.
also music is an important part of connie's story. we can say that music is her life. oates mentioned about connie that she listened to music when she is alone at home. it may be caused by she is feeling alone all the time and the music style that she is listening to shows us that she is rebellious. i think this is a result of her devaualed youth..
"she is caught between her roles as daughter, friend, sister, and object of sexual desire, uncertain of which one represent the real her",, I think this is a good analysis because it explain the Connie's desiring of prove herself as different characters.I think the result of the story is closely connected with this situation.
"At first she is flattered by his attentions, unable to realize that he is in fact a menacing force." I think this interpretations is important for understanding of real feelings of Connie.It shows the Connie's necessity of being flattered because she is always scolded by her family.
"Connie herself is unvertain of her mother's motives for constantly picking at her;she alternates between v biew that her mother's harping procceeds from jealousy of Connie's good looks now that her own have faded and a feeling that her mother really prefers her over he plain older sister June bevause she is prettier. In other words, to Connie and her mother real value lies in beauty."
I see how a mother acts wrong while valuing the child. Instead of trying to motive Connie who's at the age of adolescence, she gets jealous of her over beauty. “The reader realizes along with Connie that Arnold is not a teenage and is really thirthy or more. Each part of his fishıise is gradually revealed to be grotesquely distorted in some way. However Arnold is far more than a grotesque portrait of a psychopathic killer masquerading as a teenager.” I see how the author hides the dangerous characterism in Arnold as it appears later on when he falls on Connie. It's enlightening that Oates concentrates on teen behaviour in multiple-ways. First, in the eyes of a true teen and second, in the eyes of a teen minded body.
About my first quote, it is an enlightement of how teens grow as a devalued youth while receiving an inappropriate care by parents.
“By the time that Arnold asks, “Don’t you know who I am?” Connie realizes that it is no longer a simple question of whether he is a “jerk” or someone worth her attention but of just how crazy he is” . At this quote Oates emphasizes to look at Connie's motions about her family and Connie was scary when she thinks to lose her family again.
"Yes, I'm your lover. You don't know what that is but you will," he said. "I know that too. I know all about you. But look: it's real nice and you couldn't ask for nobody better than me, or more polite. I always keep my word. I'll tell you how it is, I'm always nice at first, the first time. I'll hold you so tight you won't think you have to try to get away or pretend anything because you'll know you can't. And I'll come inside you where it's all secret and you'll give in to me and you'll love me ". This sentences from Arnold shows the how Arnold was freak for loving Connie and he also shows how violent of his intentions about humans and unfortunately he is bloody psycho.
I liked the detailed analysis of Wegs over the mother, especially the case where she gradually loses interest over her daughter and gets jealous of her because of her beauty. Also, i liked his comment on Connine being caught between the roles of daughter, friend, sister , and object of sexual desire. Finally, i was very surprised when i found out that the story was dedicated to him and the connection between him and the story.
"Connie's father plays a small role in her life, but by paralleling repeated phrases, Oates suggest that this is precisely the problem."(p.2) Most of my friends choose also this sentence. The lack of communication between adolescence and their parents are shown as reason behind difficult adolescence with character Connie.
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values are hers also. Oates does not include the lyrics to any popular songs here, for any observer of contemporary America could surely discern the obvious link between Connie's high esteem for romantic love and youthful beauty and the lyrics of scores of hit tunes." The music is the most important part of Connie. The author uses music, without using any lyrics. Wegs explains this situation by saying that the reader is already knowledgeable about “contemporary America” and its music industry.
"Connie's father plays a small role in her life, but by paralleling repeated phrases, Oates suggest that this is precisely the problem."(p.2) Most of my friends choose also this sentence. The lack of communication between adolescence and their parents are shown as reason behind difficult adolescence with character Connie.
"Since music is Connie's religion, its values are hers also. Oates does not include the lyrics to any popular songs here, for any observer of contemporary America could surely discern the obvious link between Connie's high esteem for romantic love and youthful beauty and the lyrics of scores of hit tunes." The music is the most important part of Connie. The author uses music, without using any lyrics. Wegs explains this situation by saying that the reader is already knowledgeable about “contemporary America” and its music industry.
“As does almost everything in the story, everything about Connie has two sides of it. However, Connie’s nature one for at home and one for anywhere what was not home is simple in comparison to that of Arnold.” We also discussed that at the class. Connie acts like a nice girl-sometimes rebellious- but when she is outside she always wants to get attention.
“By the time that Arnold, asks Do you know who I am? Connie realizes that it is no longer a simple question of whether he is a jerk or someone worth her attention but of just how crazy he is.” Arnold always acts like he is cool, he is self-confident and in my opinion it is one of the examples.
In third paragraph, Weg touchs on the disconnection between Connie and her parents.Weg said that '' To Connie and her mother , real value lies in beauty . Connie's father plays a small role in her life, but paralleling repeated phrases, Oates suggests that this is precisely the problem''.
Second example is about popular culture, music and religion. Weg says that'' Oates delineates the moral poverty of Connie, her fifteen-year-old protagonist, by imaging a typical evening Connie spends at a drive -in restaurant as a grotesquely parıdied religious pilgrimage''.
Connie wants to trouble since the beginning of the story. but everything caused from her foolishness. her family could play much more role. For example why she is haughty and her sister loved?
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haha, Mete, yes, that was the IT department. Last semester someone (not from my classes) posted something very rude on the blog and we investigated it... :)
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