Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Group

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spbnk
spbnk

What are examples of the innate nature of man in "Where are you Going, Where Have You Been"?

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Posted by spbnk on Monday January 19, 2009 at 3:30 PM and tagged with examples, innate nature, man, where are you going, where have you been?.

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  1. eabettencourt
    eabettencourt Teacher
    High School - 10th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    That could be tricky to pin down, since Joyce Carol Oates herself has stated there are several different, yet acceptable, interpretations of the piece. One of the more "popular" readings of the short story deals with the concept of the end of innocence and the acceptance of the harsh adult world. Connie is believed by many to be symbolically now aware that her innocent stage of life is over when she opens that screen door. Arnold Friend is believed by most to either be the actual devil, or to be a symbolic representation of the devil. So, with this reading, the innate nature of man may be that we all must at some point enter this harsh adult world where we will be tempted to sin, that we must all deal with this.

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    Posted by eabettencourt on Tuesday January 20, 2009 at 10:11 AM