Here is the synopsis of our sample research paper on Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?": Comments on Responsibility. Have the paper e-mailed to you 24/7/365.
Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page consideration of typical reactions to this
short story in terms of where guilt is assigned. This paper reinforces the fact, once again, that the guilt lies with the criminal not with the
victim. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: AM2_PPlitOa4.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Numerous authors have commented on the issues of responsibility and blame that interlace Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" (a short story
fictionalizing the real-life murders of Charles Schmid in the 1960s). Students typically view the victim in this story as having a degree of responsibility for her fate. A
common citation from the story that they used to prove this point relates the interaction that occurred when Connie (the victim) first saw Arnold (the rapist/murderer) the night before he
arrived on her front doorstep. Connie had gone to the movies with a female friend but left that friend to spend the evening with a boyfriend. In the
process she saw Arnold over to the side obviously staring at her. Instead of quickly looking away and likely preventing Arnold pursuing her at her home the next day,
Connie: "slit her eyes at him and turned away, but she couldnt help glancing back
and there he was still watching her" (Oates 126) The obvious conclusion that many students
come to when considering this encounter was that Connie in effect encouraged Arnolds pursuit and essentially handed him an invitation to come to her house the next day. On
the one hand this conclusion seems just given what we know about body language and human relationships. Eye contact, in particular, can convey all sorts of information to those
on the receiving ends of our gaze (Jacoby 119). Indeed, even when Arnold appeared in her driveway initially Connie"
...