Where Are You Going and Where You’ve Been

Essay on Where Are You Going and Where You’ve Been A story published 100 years ago will differ from a story written now because, in general, works that demand creative thought, whether they be works of art or literature, are reflective of their time. Taking this into account, there are also literary themes that are timeless or always applicable; regardless of when the work was produced, the themes and concepts will always be relatable. The novel “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is still relevant to modern culture despite the fact that it is clear that the plot was affected by its time. The novella has a few references to 1966, the year it was written. The first thing is that music is frequently discussed and appears to be highly important to Connie. In the 1960s, music underwent rapid development, and these changes have continued to influence music today. Given this, it is understandable why it was so involved in the plot. An illustration of this is when Arnold plays the same radio station that Connie was listening to while in Connie’s driveway. Additionally, Connie mentions music each time she is joyful. She felt “bathed in a glow of slow-pulsed delight that seemed to rise strangely out of the music” when she was alone at home listening to the radio. It is understandable that music played such a significant role in the novel given the era in which it was written. The relationship between Connie and her mother is another aspect of the novel that reflects its historical context. Teenagers were growing more rebellious and disobeying their parents more frequently in the 1960s, along with all the other changes that were taking place; Connie is an example of this. She spends the evening with her pals, returns home late, and fabricates their activities. Her mother also disapproves of a lot of the other things that she does. Connie, for instance, receives criticism for wearing hairspray. Teenagers rebelling against their parents is a fairly typical occurrence in modern society, but it really picked up during this period. Connie’s family life is one of the many aspects of the novel that are still relevant today even though it was obviously written for its period. Connie is unhappy at home since her mother despises her, her father rarely visits, and her 24-year-old sister who is still residing there is her worst nightmare. Many individuals today can identify with this woman’s discontentment with her family life. People have always felt this way, and there are many people today who are dissatisfied with their living situation or the people they live with.
Arnold and the existence of others like him are another thing that still holds true today. Connie didn’t know him and was afraid of him, so he basically stalked her until he knew enough about her to approach her and persuade her to go with him. Because deceptive, creepy individuals like Arnold still exist, this part of the narrative is still relevant today.
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is a timeless classic that still has relevance today. It covers notions that were popular at the time it was written as well as timeless subjects like a dysfunctional family or stalkers with mental disorders. Even though the novel covers both historical and contemporary subjects, the ideas are successfully woven together to form a unifying theme.

I want it to be in MLA style and to add a couple of sources

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