alexcuk
Nov 2, 2008
Writing Feedback / Oates and Stone- A comparative research essay- I need a grammar review! [3]
Hello all, here is just a rough draft, you can comment on the essay itself and anything you think that is wrong with it (style, organization etc.) However, I need you to look at my grammar more than anything. Thanks!
Wars have always served as sources of great inspiration for many writers. One of the reasons for this is the fact that wars have always evoked different kinds of fears in different types of people. World War II has left the Jews fearing for their existence, while the Vietnam War left many veterans shell-shocked and disoriented. In the two stories, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates and Helping by Robert stone, both writers use the Cold War and the Vietnam War (respectively) to describe fears that resulted from them. Even though Oates' story does not even mention the Cold War, it does mention the fears that were prevalent in the time period. On the other hand, Stone's Helping uses the story's protagonist to describe the fears of Vietnam War veterans. Oates and Stone used specific time periods to explain the fears of that time, while drawing on their own experience to explain why these fears were present.
Upon searching contextual articles for Joyce Carol Oates story"Where are you going, where have you been?" the reading comes to find news paper articles connected the murder in Arizona. Even though this murder is the main inspiration for Arnold Friend, he does not serve as the meaning behind this character. Oates had grown up in suburban America, while the Cold War was at its prime. Communism and the fear of an atomic war represented some of the fears of that age. However, the fear of the unknown, which has always been present in American history, used to be most influential in this period. This was the first time Americans were dealt with the idea that their own homes could be invaded. Therefore, Arnold Friend is not just a character inspired by a real murder; he is also a characterization of the "unknown". First evidence that points out to Oates' intention for this is the fact that everything happens just outside of Connie's house. Also, Arnold knows everything that is happening, including the dead neighbor and the barbeque. His appearance also makes Arnold unrecognizable: the wig that he might be wearing, the makeup and even the way he wobbles when he stands. These characteristics entailed in this story's antagonist, give the face and a personality.
Unlike Oates' story, Robert Stone's "Helping" does not have a specific source of fear but rather multiple outlets. One of them is Blankenship's dream that haunts Elliot through the first part of the story. When he is describing the dream Elliot suddenly remembers his experience in Vietnam. "He was looking up at a sky that was black, filled with smoke-swollen clouds, lit with fires, damped with blood and rain" (Stone 87). Elliot's detailed description of this scene makes the reader aware that he was directly a part of the war. However, this was not Elliot's dream and it did not make him fear his memories; rather his own fears are written down in form of Blankenship. At this point it is interesting to realize that throughout the story Elliot does not show fear, but at all times there is the presence of fear around him. Some of the examples of this are the library and his house. The library reminds him of the days when he drank. Going even further back, it seems as though that the drinking is a product of a post traumatic disorder Elliot suffered after the war. Even though this is typical for many Veterans, Stone does not state the war having a direct effect on Elliot's drinking problem. His house is mostly symbolized by his wife, and their strained relationship. Throughout the part in the house, in Elliot's conversation with Grace, his wife feels more of an acquaintance than his marital partner. Stone's story does not have an antagonist, but many smaller parts that make fear the main "villain". Finish thought and paragraph.
Connie's world at first glance seems like an idyllic setting taken from a 60s movie. However, with closer examination it becomes apparent that this story is hiding a more sinister tone. The story is remarkably ordinary until Arnold's appearance. There are actually no details for the setting or the time of this story. One can only presume that it was placed in mid twenty century America by remarking the description of the diner and other settings. Very early into the story it is obvious that Connie does not know of another world other than her own and this in itself becomes her main weakness. Any kind of deviancy in Connie's life could have severe consequences. Even the sexual tone used to describe her relationship with boys is very naďve and shallow. Arnold's manners and appearance make her world collapse, and at this time Connie does not have a way to deal with the situation. The Cold War scenario that many have feared in this period plays out perfectly in Connie's own front yard. She is at her house, where an "outsider" managed to make her weak. She is unable to act, and at the end seems most vulnerable in her own home. This is best described when she reaches for the telephone. "Something roared in her ear, a tiny roaring, and she was so sick with fear that she could do nothing but listen to it- the telephone was clammy and very heavy..."(Oates 311). Obviously Connie is not safe in her own house, which in comparison with Elliot in "Helping" is very similar.
Elliot's would seem to be a safe place for both him and his wife. Especially considering that he is an veteran and knowledgeable in defense, this almost seems like a given. However the most of the insecurity and fear in this story appears in Elliot's home. There are many points which lead up to this conclusion. Elliot cannot stop drinking when he is inside; this could probably be true because he wanted to block out the fears left from Vietnam. Even his wife cannot stop drinking once she is in the house, even though she does not like drinking. Other evidence of Elliot's insecurity in his house is when he receives the threatening call from Vopotik. Immediately after the call, Elliot instinctively grabs a shotgun in order to protect himself from the angered biker. Finally, Elliot even leaves the house and ventures away. The actual reason for this is not known, but it seems as though he was trying to get away from home, or the place where he was most vulnerable. All these points lead up to a conclusion that like Connie, Elliot also ended up having the least security in his home. As already mentioned before, domestic insecurity was one of the main fears of both American families during the Cold war and veterans after the Vietnam War.
In order to compare the underlying themes of both stories one needs to study both of the writers' lives and careers. Of course there is nothing similar between Oates and Stone. The first was a female writer that grew up as part of a "nuclear family" in the fifties on a farm. She felt that the Cold War changed the country in many ways; mostly the fears of the American citizens. Therefore it is not strange that many of her stories deal with the effects of the Cold War, both directly and indirectly. In "Where have you been?" Oates might have even implemented elements of her own life just to paint the United States at that time. She also used some real life inspirations, mainly "Smitty" (Time) for the character of Arnold Friend. However in the same character she also embodied main fears, and also the misconceptions of the Cold War. Therefore she used her experience to write these stories and at the same time accomplish a successful critique of that time period. In this context, she is not that much different from Stone, because just as him she wrote down her ordinary experiences in a unique way.
Stone was not even a war veteran, but a war reporter. Therefore his own experience was even less unique than that of a soldier; however, like Oates, he successfully turned his experience into writing. In "Helping" he wrote about the fears veterans, and those close to them, felt. Unlike Oates he did not draw inspiration from one source, but from what many veterans experienced in post-Vietnam America. For Elliot's character he implemented some of his own character, and that of other veterans. Blankenship was also partially inspired by Stone himself because he did not experience Vietnam as a soldier. Another similarity with Oates' writing is that stone used to describe a very typical American town in that age. Whilst Oates' used to write from a point of view of a teenage girl, Stone from the veteran's perspective and therefore made the world darker and more serious. Because they had different main characters, Oates and Stone used different lenses to write about some of the fears. Oates used Connie's sexual curiosity to make her weaker in the end. Stone used Elliot's drinking problem as a recurring factor whenever he started to relive the fears of the Vietnam War. The writing styles, and experience of the writers, make Oates and Elliot and their works similar and different at the same time. They both use similar techniques to write about the fears that resulted from each of the wars.
Hello all, here is just a rough draft, you can comment on the essay itself and anything you think that is wrong with it (style, organization etc.) However, I need you to look at my grammar more than anything. Thanks!
Wars have always served as sources of great inspiration for many writers. One of the reasons for this is the fact that wars have always evoked different kinds of fears in different types of people. World War II has left the Jews fearing for their existence, while the Vietnam War left many veterans shell-shocked and disoriented. In the two stories, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates and Helping by Robert stone, both writers use the Cold War and the Vietnam War (respectively) to describe fears that resulted from them. Even though Oates' story does not even mention the Cold War, it does mention the fears that were prevalent in the time period. On the other hand, Stone's Helping uses the story's protagonist to describe the fears of Vietnam War veterans. Oates and Stone used specific time periods to explain the fears of that time, while drawing on their own experience to explain why these fears were present.
Upon searching contextual articles for Joyce Carol Oates story"Where are you going, where have you been?" the reading comes to find news paper articles connected the murder in Arizona. Even though this murder is the main inspiration for Arnold Friend, he does not serve as the meaning behind this character. Oates had grown up in suburban America, while the Cold War was at its prime. Communism and the fear of an atomic war represented some of the fears of that age. However, the fear of the unknown, which has always been present in American history, used to be most influential in this period. This was the first time Americans were dealt with the idea that their own homes could be invaded. Therefore, Arnold Friend is not just a character inspired by a real murder; he is also a characterization of the "unknown". First evidence that points out to Oates' intention for this is the fact that everything happens just outside of Connie's house. Also, Arnold knows everything that is happening, including the dead neighbor and the barbeque. His appearance also makes Arnold unrecognizable: the wig that he might be wearing, the makeup and even the way he wobbles when he stands. These characteristics entailed in this story's antagonist, give the face and a personality.
Unlike Oates' story, Robert Stone's "Helping" does not have a specific source of fear but rather multiple outlets. One of them is Blankenship's dream that haunts Elliot through the first part of the story. When he is describing the dream Elliot suddenly remembers his experience in Vietnam. "He was looking up at a sky that was black, filled with smoke-swollen clouds, lit with fires, damped with blood and rain" (Stone 87). Elliot's detailed description of this scene makes the reader aware that he was directly a part of the war. However, this was not Elliot's dream and it did not make him fear his memories; rather his own fears are written down in form of Blankenship. At this point it is interesting to realize that throughout the story Elliot does not show fear, but at all times there is the presence of fear around him. Some of the examples of this are the library and his house. The library reminds him of the days when he drank. Going even further back, it seems as though that the drinking is a product of a post traumatic disorder Elliot suffered after the war. Even though this is typical for many Veterans, Stone does not state the war having a direct effect on Elliot's drinking problem. His house is mostly symbolized by his wife, and their strained relationship. Throughout the part in the house, in Elliot's conversation with Grace, his wife feels more of an acquaintance than his marital partner. Stone's story does not have an antagonist, but many smaller parts that make fear the main "villain". Finish thought and paragraph.
Connie's world at first glance seems like an idyllic setting taken from a 60s movie. However, with closer examination it becomes apparent that this story is hiding a more sinister tone. The story is remarkably ordinary until Arnold's appearance. There are actually no details for the setting or the time of this story. One can only presume that it was placed in mid twenty century America by remarking the description of the diner and other settings. Very early into the story it is obvious that Connie does not know of another world other than her own and this in itself becomes her main weakness. Any kind of deviancy in Connie's life could have severe consequences. Even the sexual tone used to describe her relationship with boys is very naďve and shallow. Arnold's manners and appearance make her world collapse, and at this time Connie does not have a way to deal with the situation. The Cold War scenario that many have feared in this period plays out perfectly in Connie's own front yard. She is at her house, where an "outsider" managed to make her weak. She is unable to act, and at the end seems most vulnerable in her own home. This is best described when she reaches for the telephone. "Something roared in her ear, a tiny roaring, and she was so sick with fear that she could do nothing but listen to it- the telephone was clammy and very heavy..."(Oates 311). Obviously Connie is not safe in her own house, which in comparison with Elliot in "Helping" is very similar.
Elliot's would seem to be a safe place for both him and his wife. Especially considering that he is an veteran and knowledgeable in defense, this almost seems like a given. However the most of the insecurity and fear in this story appears in Elliot's home. There are many points which lead up to this conclusion. Elliot cannot stop drinking when he is inside; this could probably be true because he wanted to block out the fears left from Vietnam. Even his wife cannot stop drinking once she is in the house, even though she does not like drinking. Other evidence of Elliot's insecurity in his house is when he receives the threatening call from Vopotik. Immediately after the call, Elliot instinctively grabs a shotgun in order to protect himself from the angered biker. Finally, Elliot even leaves the house and ventures away. The actual reason for this is not known, but it seems as though he was trying to get away from home, or the place where he was most vulnerable. All these points lead up to a conclusion that like Connie, Elliot also ended up having the least security in his home. As already mentioned before, domestic insecurity was one of the main fears of both American families during the Cold war and veterans after the Vietnam War.
In order to compare the underlying themes of both stories one needs to study both of the writers' lives and careers. Of course there is nothing similar between Oates and Stone. The first was a female writer that grew up as part of a "nuclear family" in the fifties on a farm. She felt that the Cold War changed the country in many ways; mostly the fears of the American citizens. Therefore it is not strange that many of her stories deal with the effects of the Cold War, both directly and indirectly. In "Where have you been?" Oates might have even implemented elements of her own life just to paint the United States at that time. She also used some real life inspirations, mainly "Smitty" (Time) for the character of Arnold Friend. However in the same character she also embodied main fears, and also the misconceptions of the Cold War. Therefore she used her experience to write these stories and at the same time accomplish a successful critique of that time period. In this context, she is not that much different from Stone, because just as him she wrote down her ordinary experiences in a unique way.
Stone was not even a war veteran, but a war reporter. Therefore his own experience was even less unique than that of a soldier; however, like Oates, he successfully turned his experience into writing. In "Helping" he wrote about the fears veterans, and those close to them, felt. Unlike Oates he did not draw inspiration from one source, but from what many veterans experienced in post-Vietnam America. For Elliot's character he implemented some of his own character, and that of other veterans. Blankenship was also partially inspired by Stone himself because he did not experience Vietnam as a soldier. Another similarity with Oates' writing is that stone used to describe a very typical American town in that age. Whilst Oates' used to write from a point of view of a teenage girl, Stone from the veteran's perspective and therefore made the world darker and more serious. Because they had different main characters, Oates and Stone used different lenses to write about some of the fears. Oates used Connie's sexual curiosity to make her weaker in the end. Stone used Elliot's drinking problem as a recurring factor whenever he started to relive the fears of the Vietnam War. The writing styles, and experience of the writers, make Oates and Elliot and their works similar and different at the same time. They both use similar techniques to write about the fears that resulted from each of the wars.