In the story of “Life after High School” by Joyce Carol Oates, one of the main characters Zachary has a hard time with his love for Sunny. This leads to his death. Zach later shows the reader just how much he loves Sunny by asking her to marry him. Joyce Carol Oates introduces themes of growing up and transition from youth to adulthood and feeling the need to conform to other people to her short story “Life after High School” through a typical plot line about the love story of Zachary and Sunny. Which reveled a couple deep secrets of the three main characters. The author wants to make the reader believe that is a typical story, having a shy and goofy teenage by trying to get the attention of a popular cheerleader. That way reads can easily identify and relate to the characters and their positions during high school and Living behind masks.” masked identity. Zachary is a kind, intelligent but slightly obsessive young man. He is a developing character because throughout the story you discover different aspects of his character. His character seems very predictable it turns our that his actions are unpredictable in the end. The story ends with a twist, which explains his actions throughout the story. …show more content…
Sunny (Barbara) is a very sweet girl, a cheerleader and is very popular.
She is too kinds to deny Zachary and tell him to move on or go away. She just lets him show his affections and let him try to prove his love for her, the only reason for why she lets all this happen is because se wants to remain sweet and “sunny”. “I couldn’t have loved Zachary Graf as he claimed he loved me because- I couldn’t”. If she does not remain being sweet and kind she does not feel that she deserves the nave given to her. She is a developing character because she changes a lot during the story and also changes her name after Zachary’s
death. Last but not least the third main character Tobias is an insignificant character, becomes important near the end of his story. He also explains some of the deeds that Zachary did. Tobias is not really a developing character; he never hid or explained the potential reasons for Zachary’s affections towards Sunny. However, in the end, it all becomes clear, Tobias’ character becomes more significant. Zachary’s car was a “plum-colored 1956 Plymouth which the other boys envied” – the car symbolized the masculinity Zachary lacked – cars are typically a symbol of male emotions which Zachary did not feel and it is ironic because he was one of the few to have a car – the color purple symbolizes sexual passion and penitential suffering – it is also ironic that the car becomes Zachary’s coffin instead of his way of expressing his sexuality. Key to the story is indicative of silent struggle that LGBTQs face, especially during their youth. Zachary was trying to fit in by being something that he wasn't. Masking his true identity “I have no true talent for it, and I find it profoundly boring, but golf will be my game.” He took up golf and courted Sunny, while he wasn't very interested in either of them. Zachary ended up killing himself. Tobias, on the other hand, didn't pretend to be someone else to try to fit in. While he was somewhat shy about his life choices.
Growing up as a happy and popular young man, Zack creates himself a perfect reputation which left room for love and smothering from his mother and two sisters. His mother and sisters love him very much and show this love by being at his every beckoning. Winifred is no exception; the love for Zack is shown by the extraction, “How be you wash my bike for me, Pose, Love?” I would be halfway to the kitchen for bucket and rags before he stopped speaking. [And] I was Zachary’s willing slave. Slavery in fact, was a vogue in our house.”(Wilson,101). Zack from a very young age is overwhelmed with love and good deeds sent in his direction. He takes advantage of these kind gestures and never really appreciates what was being done for him. This lack of appreciation and constant smothering is noticed by his father at later stages in the story and creates a level of confliction between them throughout the story. His father makes the mistake of not saying anything about his disagreement with the way Zack is treated and allows the conflict to continue. “Even Dad took a long time to wake up. You wouldn’t think a fourteen – or sixteen-year-old-boy could hoodwink a father… [And] Dad would just leave the room and go out to his work shed and sit and rock and rock in that old chair of his.” (Wilson,103). His father new there was a problem but did not act on it until the situation reached its climax which resulted in Zack leaving home. The problem is allowed to escalate at the time. The father does not play as big of a role in Zack’s life. Due to mothers love for Zack she allows him to get away with a lot of things that most mothers would not. One day she baked a cake for the church bazaar and left a sign warning nobody to eat it. She came home to find a slice gone and realised it was Zack that took the slice.
This chapter gives us perspective into the girl’s side of campus and also gives us deeper access into the Special Services Committee. Hubner presents this information while adding his own writing style. One of the techniques the author utilizes is that he paraphrases the events in her life but uses direct quotations when he is trying to emphasize a point or catch the reader’s attention. He also does not censor her life which gives the chapter a realistic appeal. His word choice sways the reader into feeling compassion and sympathy for Candace. Throughout the chapter he refers to Candace as a marvelous actress. In doing so he presents her as a subject who is adored by the public, but also as someone who is capable of portraying herself in multiple character roles opposite of who she really
High school sophomore, Samantha Baker woke up on the morning of her sixteenth birthday, hoping for an overnight transformation. While on the phone with her best friend, she stares at herself in the mirror, praying she had grown a few inches and a set of boobs. Much to avail, she has not and her day goes on just like every other one. She has the added pressure of being a bridesmaid for her older sister Ginny’s wedding, the next day. After being felt up by Grandmother Baker, Samantha deals with the ridicule and torment of her annoying little brother and takes the bus to school. During her study hall class she takes a silly quiz another friend had given her. The quiz ends up in the hands of her crush, Jake Ryan! The anxiety sets in.
In Joyce Carol Oates's short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" the protagonist introduced is Connie, who is an interesting and strong character. Just like every other teenager, she is searching for a purpose and trying to find her place in society. Although Connie seems to be an incredibly self absorbed teenage girl, there is a part of her personality that is different than the rest. She lives a double life, having one personality around her house, with her family, and the other when she is hanging out with friends in public. Due to this double personality, the reader can't help but become intrigued and question which girl she truly is.
In her famous short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Carol Oates shows the transition from childhood to adulthood through her character Connie. Each person experiences this transition in their own way and time. For some it is leaving home for the first time to go to college, for others it might be having to step up to a leadership position. No matter what, this transition affects everyone; it just happens to everyone differently. Oates describes Connie's unfortunate coming of age in a much more violent and unexpected way than the typical coming of age story for a fifteen year old girl.
Coming-of-age stories commonly record the transitions—sometimes abrupt, or even violent—from youth to maturity, from innocence to experience of its protagonist, whether male or female. Greasy Lake by T.Coraghessan Boyle and Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates are great examples of traditional coming-of-age stories. The roots of the coming-of-age narrative theme are tracked in the male protagonist’s perspective for Boyle’s short story, while the Oates’ story captures the coming-of-age theme from Connie; a female protagonist’s perspective. In both short stories, the authors fulfill the expectations of a coming-of-age genre when they take us through the journey of rebellion and self realization, as the
Authors use character development to show how a person can change. Through a descriptive portrayal of a charter and their development they become real to the reader. A well-developed character stirs up emotions in the reader making for a powerful story. A person can change for better or worse and Nathaniel Hawthorne shows this thru the character development of Hester, Chillingworth, and Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter.
It was a sunny day with a sweet aroma of blooming tulips. The sunlight glittered on their faces as the breeze rattled the chestnut tree above. There was an occasional giggle as they talked, but there was also a hint of discomfort and awkwardness between them as they peeked at each other’s face and recoiled when the other looked up. When the bell rang twice, I saw them say goodbye and walk away from each other. In the darkness of the crowd, a glimmer flashed into my eyes from Hannah’s cheeks.
During the teenage years they no longer want to be labeled the “child; matter of fact, they have a strong desire to rebel against the family norms and move quickly into adulthood. This transition and want for freedom can be a very powerful and frightening thing as there are evils in this world that cannot be explained. Most parents try to understand and give their teens certain freedoms, but at what expense? Joyce Oates gives us a chilly story about a teenager that wanted and craved this freedom of adulthood called “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. This is a haunting story of a young girl by the name of Connie who gives us a glimpse of teenager transitioning from childhood with the need for freedom and the consequences of her actions. Connie is described as a very attractive girl who did not like her role in the family unit. She was the daughter who could not compare to her older sister and she felt her Mom showed favoritism towards her sister. Connie is your average teen who loves music, going out with friends, and she likes the attention she receives from boys. During this time, Connie is also growing into her sexuality and is obsessing with her looks as she wants and likes to be noticed by the opposite sex. Her sexual persona and need to be free will be what is fatal to her character’s life and well-being.
In the days leading up to her graduation, she was so excited about receiving her diploma for her academic accomplishments, even though she hasn’t accomplished a lot in life by experiencing a little bit of it. She felt like the birthday girl with her pretty dress, beautiful hair, and the presents she received from Uncle Willie and her mother. She felt like it w...
... middle of paper ... ... Throughout the story he changes physically, mentally, and emotionally from a young child to an old man, which makes him a dynamic character. He became a very dynamic character because he found a need for materialistic things such as statues and homes such as Xanadu, his large home on a vast plot of secluded land.
The role of identity plays an important role in all adolescence which can help shape their future. In psychology, identity is the conception, qualities, beliefs, and expressions that make a person or group. The movie, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, illustrates how teens struggle with identity. Charlie is an anti-social freshman who is befriended by a group of high school seniors, who introduces him to the world of drugs, love, sexulatity, friendship, and lies. His friends play a huge role in his development. Throughout the movie, Charlie was able to build upon his character and develop friendships that gave him a new perspective that life needs, to live life rather than watching it.
As he grows older, his style changes and he sees the real world as it really is as opposed to his fantasies he had when he was younger. A major development in the story is the actual act of becoming a man. Boys his age have a festival for many days that lead up to their circumcision, after which they become men. After this accomplishment, he still writes about his fears and his thoughts but he is much more wary to keep them to himself. And as he grows even older he moves away from home to attend Technical College for four years. These years change him very much and when he returns home he is much more of an adult and conducts himself in such a manner.
boy attitude and tough outside, while also having a good heart and a caring personality. His character brings out the reader’s ‘id’ as Freud would say. It brings out the naughtiness inside the reader’s personality, while still making him lovable because he is really a good person on the inside.
The Complex Character of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Upon examining Shakespeare's characters in this play, Hamlet proves to be a very complex character, and functions as the key element to the development of the play. Throughout the play we see the many different aspects of Hamlet's personality by observing his actions and responses to certain situations. Hamlet takes on the role of a strong character, but through his internal weaknesses we witness his destruction.