Open End in “Where Are You Going…” by Oates Essay

Exclusively available on Available only on IvyPanda® Made by Human No AI

Where are you going, where have you been? is a short story by American writer Joyce Carol Oates. The plot revolves around 15-year-old girl Connie and a man named Arnold Fiend. Practically the entire storyline concerns Arnold’s trying to convince Connie to leave her house and come for a ride with him and his friend (Oates, 1993). His words and behavior leave no doubt about his dangerous intentions. At the end of the story, the protagonist suffers a complete breakdown and steps outside the house, and the rest of Connie’s fate is untold. An open end in literature refers to the lack of clear-cut conclusion to the story. The open-ended nature of the story serves the purpose of inflicting both horror and hope on the reader.

A story with an open ending allows a reader to draw their own conclusions on the subject of the character’s future and the meaning of the plot. It given the reader an incentive to explore and analyze the work more thoroughly. The fact that the reader does not receive closure in this specific case amplifies the horror of the described situation. It is unknown whether Connie survives the encounter and, if she does, what consequences she suffers. By making people ponder these questions, the writer allows the story to linger with the reader substantially longer than it would have otherwise. On the other hand, it gives those who read it hope. One can imagine an ending where Connie’s parents return home early or a neighbor intervenes in the plight. A reader can even imagine Connie overcoming her helpless condition and fighting back, making a narrative about human’s ability to fall down and raise themselves again.

In conclusion, Where are you going, where have you been? is a story with an open ending which serves to inspire a reader to create their own narratives. On the one hand, it inspires lasting fear for Connie and her well-being. On the other hand, it gives people an opportunity to hope for her to come back to herself, fight back, and recover from this experience.

Reference

Oates, J. C. (1993). Where are you going, where have you been? Ontario Review Press.

More related papers Related Essay Examples
Cite This paper
You're welcome to use this sample in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2023, October 13). Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates. https://ivypanda.com/essays/open-end-in-where-are-you-going-by-oates/

Work Cited

"Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates." IvyPanda, 13 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/open-end-in-where-are-you-going-by-oates/.

References

IvyPanda. (2023) 'Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates'. 13 October.

References

IvyPanda. 2023. "Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates." October 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/open-end-in-where-are-you-going-by-oates/.

1. IvyPanda. "Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates." October 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/open-end-in-where-are-you-going-by-oates/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "Open End in “Where Are You Going...” by Oates." October 13, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/open-end-in-where-are-you-going-by-oates/.

If, for any reason, you believe that this content should not be published on our website, please request its removal.
Updated:
This academic paper example has been carefully picked, checked and refined by our editorial team.
No AI was involved: only quilified experts contributed.
You are free to use it for the following purposes:
  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment
Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.

1 / 1