for their stories. Joyce Carol Oates is now being criticized as unethical for just that. The critics claim that it was not ethical for Oates to use the events that befell John Fiocco Jr. in her story "Landfill", and also for including many similarities between Fiocco and her main character Hector Campos Jr.. Though there are some similarities between the two, the differences were great enough that only some who knew of the Fiocco case. Because of this, Joyce Carol Oates' decision to use Fioccos' death
Self-Discovery in Oates Naked While other, less accomplished writers use violence to shock or provoke, Joyce Carol Oates is usually more subtle and inventive. Such is the case in "Naked," the story of a forty-six year old woman whose placid outer identity is ripped away by a brutal assault while out hiking not far from her fashionable, University Heights neighborhood. Like many of Oates' stories—and in this regard she probably owes something to Flannery O'Connor—"Naked" focuses on a woman so
any description and therefore they begin to seem almost unimportant. Both Anton Chekhov and Joyce Oates chose to tell the story using a third-person narrator. This is one of the most important aspects of the characterization because if other characters were allowed to appear more within either story, the reader would have more than likely had a different view of their affair. For example, if Oates had allowed the reader to know Anna’s husband more intimately and definitely if the reader could read
murder, Joyce Carol Oates’s novels have been able to capture the sometimes cruel reality of American life in an unorthodox way. Joyce Carol Oates was born on June 16th, 1938, in Lockport, New York. Raised on her parent’s farm in a rural area that had been hit by the Great Depression, she attended the same one-room school house as her mother. As a young child, Oates developed a love of literature and writing well beyond her years. She was very encouraged by her parents and grandparents to pursue her love
Attempts to Connect in Shopping Although Shopping, written by Joyce Carol Oates, is fiction, the story portrays a relationship that represents many parents and children have in real life. The child is growing up and wants to spread her wings. However, the parent usually does not want to let go. Arguments and the awkward silences are frequent. The seemingly useless attempts to connect with the son or daughter are also frequent. Yet, what the child does not realize is that no matter how old
The Fires of Jubilee by Stephen B. Oates The Fires of Jubilee by Stephen B. Oates describes a sad and tragic story about a man named Nat Turner who was born into slavery and his fight to be free. Ironically, his willingness to do anything, even kill, to gain his freedom leads to his own demise. From the title of this book, 'The Fires of Jubilee,'; a reader can truly grasp the concept that there is trouble, chaos, and mayhem brewing in the month of August. This story was not only riveting
Author Joyce Carol Oates, who is considered one of the Great American authors, wrote during the Contemporary period. Particularly, in her works titled “The Suicide” and “Occult” written in 1978 and 1975 we can see evidence of the characteristics, themes and style identified with the Anti War movement which was extant in American letters between 1970 and 1973. As a representative of such a movement, Joyce Carol Oates then remains one of the most identifiable and iconic writers of her time. Born on
There are many titles that been over looked. The kind of title that belong to books that can give you a better perspective about lif. The book I choose to do is, The Sacrifice by Joyce Carol Oates. “There must be Sacrifice in revolution. At any time, any one of us might be chosen.” (Page 216) This is the quote that told me what this book is all about. Sacrifice is giving up something for something or someone else. Throughout the book everyone gave up something, things like faith, truth, dignity,
Mother and Daughter Relationship Exposed in Joyce Carol Oates' Short Story, Shopping The relationship between a mother and a daughter is one of complications, heartaches, and sweet rewards. This is no exception between Nola and Mrs. Dietrich, characters in "Shopping" by Joyce Carol Oates. The tribulations of their relationship are shown during their annual shopping trip. In the time spent together, Nola is obviously trying to break free from her mother and become her own woman. This coming-of-age
Neglect and Decay in Joyce Carol Oates' "Haunted" “Things in the world even those built by man are so quiet left to themselves…” People futilely fight the decay of life and relationships in an attempt to find beauty and goodness in the world. Joyce Carol Oates masterfully illustrates this theme in her short story “Haunted.” Oates reveals the protagonist Melissa’s desperate struggle with looming forces like the physical environment, her twisted relationship with her best friend, and even the
Where Is Here essay The word infinity is used differently in the story Where is Here, by Joyce Carol Oates, then many other concepts we might think it’s used for. Oates uses it in a unique way, hinting that the characters, the drawing, and the house are representing infinity. Heading straight into the story, the strange man that comes into this family’s life on a chilling November night, does more than just look around at the ancient house he use to live in. As the mother tries to pry on
Joyce Carol Oates’ Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Joyce Carol Oates is one of the most productive writers of our time. Between 1971-95, Oates published twenty-five novels, eighteen short story compilations, three collections of novellas, five volumes of poetry, six editions of plays, eight books of essays, and countless more umcollected works (Kellman 487). As the format for her writing varies, so does her subject matter. Her creations cover a wide range of genres, but Oates' main fascination
Back Ground: Joyce Carol Oates was a true change in American Literature. She associated many novels that revealed political stances along with physical and psychological pain. (1) Joyce grew up in a rough neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. It was not uncommon for her to behold mistreatment, abuse, and gang violence; especially towards women. Detroit was a major political city were women’s rights were being fought. (2) Physical brawls broke out all over the city due to the uprising of women who
Edwin Surio, Jr. Professor John Lynch English 2 March 5, 2017 Connie and Her Fantastical Friend The work “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a story of a young girl that faces certain coming-of-age experiences in a matter of a few days. Themes of adolescent challenges, naïveté, and fate, along with the idea of an exterior and a false façade, are prominent ideas that appears throughout the story. With the protagonist, Connie, at the center of the story, the reader
Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Every person comes face to face at some point in life with vital decisions. Some of the decisions are minor ones, while others can bring turning points in life. In Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?' she displays a particular instant in the main character's life. This character, Connie was caught in the difficult transition from her youth and innocence to a doubtful future. Throughout the story Connie alternates
Chekhov's perspective was through the male character's point of view, while Oates's perspective was through the female character's point of view. Chekhov focuses on the male lover, Gurov, and his thoughts on his affair with a woman named Anna. Similarly, Oates focuses on Anna's emotions and state of being on her affair with Gurov. However, Chekhov's point of view on Gurov's affair was seen as positive and accepted with no feelings of guilt or shame for his actions; while Oates's point of view on Anna's affair
Analysis of Joyce Carol Oates' Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? In Joyce Carol Oates' “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” critics argue whether the character of Arnold Friend, clearly the story's antagonist, represents Satan in the story. Indeed, Arnold Friend is an allegorical devil figure for the main reason that he tempts Connie, the protagonist, into riding off with him in his car. Oates characterizes Arnold Friend at first glance as “a boy with shaggy, black hair
The Devil in Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Her name is Connie, and she is not unlike many girls of the time she lives in. She is vain, she is constantly at war with her family, and she is in an incredible rush to grow up. Her race to maturity is the trait focused on in Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been." It splits Connie into two different personalities: 'One for home, and one for anywhere that was not home' (431). Everything about
Joyce Carol Oates is a writer who takes many risks. Her writing style varies with each story and she is constantly trying to find new ways to make her stories more interesting. In her novel What I Lived For she writes from a 3rd person perspective. This book was written in the 1990s and it was unusual that a female writer wrote from a man’s point of view. Oates wrote this book to be different and to prove her skills as a writer. She has an extensive amount of characterization for the main character
The story “Where is Here?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a story that addresses many heavy topics. Some of those topics are: abuse and violence, how we treat our family when no one is watching, and how hospitable people truly are to strangers. Through careful analysis of this multilayered story, we can uncover some hidden gems. Who is the stranger in the story, How does violence play into the connections the stranger makes, and In what sense is the stranger dead? By asking ourselves questions such as