Duality in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

In Joyce Carol Oatess Where be You spill, Where feed You Been?, a master(prenominal) theme is dichotomy. The very de ratifyation of the twaddle calls attention to dualism: a future (where are you going) and a past (where have you been). past we have the both varied lenses of the adult life and the young life, as seen from the narrators divided perspective. The story is safe of allusions, deception, and allegory. The recurrence of duality at bottom the often ambiguous news report behaves as a condense amidst the confusion. As such, the theme of duality serves to more effectively strike to the reader the ambivalent feelings privileged the mind of the principal(prenominal) character, Connie.\nThe deed of conveyance of the story clearly shows both sides to the upcoming narrative. Where Are You Going (Oates) could refer to the future of the main character, her perception of the future, or who she go extraneous become in the future. Similarly, Where Have You Been (O ates) could refer to her past, her memories, or the mortal that she is leaving behind. Beginning the story with these cardinal questions sets the stage for the reader, alluding that at that place go away be two elements to the story, and their meaning is not to date clear. This use of duality in the title itself is the first sign that this thematic element will be present passim this tale.\nThe main character, Connie, lives within two knowledge bases: the world at internal, and the world outside with her friends. Connie dresses differently establish on where she is or where she is going. By the statements, She wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked maven way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home. Everything about her had two sides to it, peerless for home and one for anywhere that was not home (Oates), we jakes see how duality is use as a telephone exchange theme in the story by the author to clearly write about Connies divergent lifestyle and iridescent future. At home, Connie tries to live what she sees as a normal life, or at least act li...