William Faulkner's novel, Sanctuary (1931), delves into horrifying actions and their consequences in the American South, examining themes of personal and societal evil, disillusionment, and the quest for justice in an unjust world.

Daphne Du Maurier's renowned gothic novel Rebecca (1938) tells the story of a young bride psychologically manipulated by her wealthy, troubled husband, Max de Winter. The narrator's insecurity and constant comparisons to her husband's deceased first wife, Rebecca, lead to misunderstandings that unravel into unexpected truths in the novel's suspenseful conclusion.

The Member of the Wedding, Carson McCullers's 1946 novel, explores emotional conflicts and the challenging transition into adulthood. Its twelve-year-old protagonist, Frankie Addams, who wishes to be called F. Jasmine Addams, mistakenly believes she will join her older brother on his honeymoon. McCullers's skillful use of perspective allows readers to empathize with Frankie while gaining insights she herself cannot.

Flannery O'Connor's short story collection, A Good Man Is Hard to Find (1955), highlights why Oates's style, themes, and subjects are often linked to O'Connor's influence. The title story, featuring a family's ominous encounter with a man called "The Misfit," provides an intriguing comparison to "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

Susan Brownmiller's pioneering 1975 study, Against Our Wills: Men, Women, and Rape, is regarded as a seminal feminist examination of the history and psychology of male power and domination over women.

Many short stories in Joyce Carol Oates's collection Heat and Other Stories (1991) explore parent-child relationships. Oates's trademark violence appears in several stories, while others address the emotional extremes of everyday life, such as the mother-daughter trip to the mall depicted in "Shopping."

Joyce Carol Oates's novel Zombie (1995) focuses on the mind of a serial killer, narrated through a series of diary entries by the disturbed Quentin P__ as he strives to create a zombie from one of his victims.