Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Group

Question:

carrie1
carrie1
Student
College - Junior

In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?," what kind of mental shift or epiphany does Connie experience during the story?

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Posted by carrie1 on Tuesday September 16, 2008 at 5:16 PM and tagged with characters, connie, epiphany, themes, where are you going, where have you been?.

Answers:


  1. podunc Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    Connie has led a fairly shallow existence prior to the appearance of Arnold Friend--a life consumed with boys, clothes, and her own looks. Because she has so little sense of who she really is, Arnold is able to invade her and, essentially, take over her mind and her body. At one point, Connie stops being afraid of Arnold and realizes that she is "hollow" and empty. She goes on to think that her "pounding heart" is not her own and that her own body isn't either. This is the most self-insight Oates allows before Connie gets into Arnold's car and is driven away.

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    Posted by podunc on Tuesday September 16, 2008 at 6:23 PM