Female characters and psychological problems of women - Essay Example

Connie, the main character of “Where are you going, Where have you been?” lives in the world of fantasy dreaming about the Prince and romantic relations with boys. Joyce Carol Oates describes Connie: “The rest of the time Connie spent around the house - it was summer vacation-getting in her mother s way and thinking, dreaming about the boys she met” (Oates). The grandmother in “A Good Man is hard to Find” is dreaming about a travel to Georgia to see her friends.

She tries to persuade her son, Bailey, to change their route, but she is not even sure where the house is. "It's not much farther," the grandmother said and just as she said it, a horrible thought came to her. The thought was so embarrassing that she turned red in the face and her eyes dilated and her feet jumped up, upsetting her valise in the corner” (O’Connor, p. 144). These situations show that both characters do not take into account consequences of their desires living in the world of dreams.

  Religion has a certain impact on idealized worldviews of both women. It seems that both of them do not devoted Catholics, but they address the God too often in everyday life. "Jesus!" the old lady cried.  In the other story, when the car “came to a stop at the side door, Connie exclaims "Christ. Christ," wondering how bad she looked” (Oates). She feels pressure from her sister and mother: “How've you got your hair fixed-what the hell stinks? You don't see your sister using that junk.. In case of an accident, anyone seeing her dead on the highway would know at once that she was a lady (O'Connor, p. 138). Connie "knew she was pretty and that was everything" (Oates).

She feels pressure from her sister and mother: "How've you got your hair fixed-what the hell stinks Hair spray You don't see your sister using that junk." (Oates).To some extent, the dreams and fantasies of both character is a result of the fact that the grandmother and Connie are constantly at war with their families. It results in self-absorption and attempts to escape from reality. Lack of attention is the main problem for Connie while lack of understanding is the main problem for the grandmother.

Both characters suffer greatly because their role in the life is limited. The grandmother and Connie feel that nobody wants to listen to them, and unsatisfied with their roles they find relief in the world of dreams. For the grandmother her desire to visit the old house is nothing more than a whim of an old person trying to rule a world around her. Connie's dream is a result of a romanticized worldview typical for every teenager, and inability of her family to help her to mature. The women try to play different roles but cannot find any that suits them or make them happier.

It is possible to say that in spite of their age, both protagonists are selfish and willful. Both women do nothing to change their life, because subconsciously they are used to be weak and helpless. They prefer to escape reality which does not satisfy them in fantasy. And, as the most important both characters ruin their lives aimlessly. Connie escapes with a stranger while the grandmother is killed by the Misfit. It is possible to conclude that both characters are the victims of desires and dreams