Compare&contrast, where are you going,Where have you bee by joyce oates and A&P by john updike - Essay Example

Comparison of “Where are you going, Where have you been?” and “A&P” At the beginning of the story “Where are you going, where have you been?”, Connie is characterized as a typical teen-ager. She is completely self-absorbed on a superficial level, concerned with the way she looks and how others perceive her. “She was fifteen and she had a quick, nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right.

” Connie’s age presumes a certain degree of innocence, which is supported by her description. Her ideas of good taste are called into question with the mention of the clattering charm bracelets and the hair style that involves hair pulled up and puffed on one side of the head. Her interests include boys, fashions, hair styles and makeup. Contrasted against this image of innocence, she lives a double life. “Everything about her had two sides to it; one for home and one for anywhere that was not home: her walk, which could be childlike and bobbing, or languid enough to make anyone think she was hearing music in her head; her mouth, which was pale and smirking most of the time, but bright and pink on these evenings out.

” In this characterization, Oates illustrates that her character is at once very innocent in her experience, but also rebellious and ready, so she imagines, for much more exciting and adult experiences. When Arthur Friend appears at her door, he points out that it was her blatant sexuality that attracted him and he intends to take advantage of it. Connie’s innocence in how to handle this sort of situation causes her to be a victim to Arthur’s manipulations.John Updike’s character also seems very innocent yet becoming aware of the impact she has on others.

She enters the A&P with her two friends, all in bikini bathing suits and all in bare feet, to do a little shopping. Although all eyes are on the trio, only the girl labeled ‘the queen’ seems to rise above the scrutiny: “She must have felt in the corner of her eye me and over my shoulder Stokesie in the second slot watching, but she didnt tip. Not this queen. She kept her eyes moving across the racks, and stopped, and turned so slow it made my stomach rub the inside of my apron, and buzzed to the other two, who kind of huddled against her for relief”.

While she feels the attention she’s getting, she doesn’t seem to be quite aware of its implications until the manager, Lengel, who is attracted by the girls’ blatant sexuality, brings attention to the obvious by indicating they are not dressed appropriately. The embarrassed blush that appears on Queenie’s face causes Sammy to quit his job feeling she’d somehow been victimized, introducing another way in which the story is very much like Joyce Carol Oates’. Although both stories feature a pretty young woman just beginning to understand the effect she has on others who becomes somehow victimized as a result, they differ in the degree of victimization and method of delivery.

Connie in Oates’ story is being led away from her house undeniably to be raped by this much older and somehow deformed man and possibly murdered as he drops hints that her life with her family is already over. She is completely unable to handle the situation and thus save herself. Queenie is only slightly embarrassed in front of middle-aged shoppers referred to as ‘sheep’. Presumably, she has had some examples of how to handle herself as she defends herself to the manager and leaves with her head still held high, thus emerging a little bit wiser and less of a victim than she appeared at first.

The narration also introduces a degree of difference in the two stories. The one in Oates’ story is detached, explaining the scene that is taking place and allowing the reader to have only a brief glimpse into the minds of the characters. The narrator in Updike’s story is one of the characters, explaining not only what’s happening in the store, but also what’s going through his mind as it occurs. This brings the reader into a much closer connection with the events. Works CitedOates, Joyce Carol.

“Where are you going, Where have you been?” The Ontario Review. 1991. June 27, 2008 Updike, John. “A&P.” Tiger Town. 2003. June 27, 2008 < http://www.tiger-town.com/whatnot/updike/>