Comparison Essay "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" & "Paul's Case".

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Comparison Essay

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

&

“Paul’s Case”

By: Gregory Berrea 2025631

ENG 1120 A

Dr. Linda Hauch

November 27, 2002

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “Paul’s Case,” both main characters display similar qualities that lead them to encounters that inevitably destroy their innocence.  Due to the ending of both teens lives one is able to come to the conclusion that their death was a result of no parental figure in their lives to instill morals and restrict freedom, there is a desire for romance at a young age, and a great deal of naivety in both teens.  The striking similarities in the plot and characters of the two short stories “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?” and “Paul’s Case” show similarities in their negative conclusions.

In “Paul’s Case” the main character is living by his own morals.  Paul’s has decided for himself what is right and what is wrong.  Paul was raised by his widowed father his whole life, “I happen to know that he was born in Colorado, only a few months before his mother died out there of a long illness” (Cather 537).  Although the reader sees Paul’s father as an honest man who is trying to better himself in this world through perseverance and hard work, Paul is trying to move up the echelons of society through stealing and lying.  This is stated to the reader by Cather on page 548, “The firm of Denny & Carson announced that the boy’s father had refunded the full amount of the theft,” and on page 546 after Paul has taken the bank notes, “here he was, the thing done; and this time there would be no awakening, no (parental) figure at the top of the stairs.”

These quotes show the differences in the morals that Paul’s father had instilled upon him and the evident lack of morals that Paul’s father failed to instill in him.  Paul knows that there is nothing his father can do to punish him, and if his father can find a way to adequately punish his son, Paul will definitely deny ever feeling punished.  Similarly, in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Connie has a less than perfect family life.  Her family consists of a mother that is trusting, and a perfect sister that her mother adores and expects Connie to measure up to.  Her father is never around, except to eat dinner, read the newspaper, and sleep.  Connie feels that her family cares nothing about her life.  “He didn’t bother talking much to them” (Oates 694), regarding Connie’s family.  Connie likes attention and when she does not get it from her family, she tries to get attention from boys.  Connie spends weekends at the mall or sneaking over to the restaurant where the older kids can be found.  She is able to sneak around because she has a lot of freedom.  Like Paul, Connie does not have anyone telling her no, no one to ask questions of repercussion, and if Connie’s mom or Paul’s dad have decided on punishment the kids are not willing to wear their worries on their sleeves.  Connie lies every time she is going out and manages never to get caught until it is too late.  “She always drew thick clear lines between herself and such girls, and her mother was simple and kindly enough to believe her” (Oates 695).  Connie’s parents never cared enough to interfere in her life or question her outings.  At a young age Connie was always daydreaming about boys, relationships, and romantic thoughts.  These thoughts demonstrate Connie’s immoral behavior at such a young age.  It is clear that both characters had poor relationships with their parents.  Their parents were not involved in their child’s lives enough, or there to set any boundaries, or arm their kids with the proper morals that may have saved their children.

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Along with poor morals, the teens strove to find romance at a young age.  In Connie’s case she is involved with a man whom has more on his agenda than she is willing to be involved in, while in “Paul’s Case” his romanticism lies within a social class.  Paul’s desire is to attain a higher echelon of social status through any means necessary.  Paul sees the actors, singers, and other aristocrats as the passion of life.  Paul thinks that these people are the lucky ones whom are living the way he should be, he hates the way that he lives ...

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