journal entries for both: `A Good Man Is Hard to Find,` and `Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?`

Two Reading Journals

A Good Man is Hard to Find ' by Flannery O 'Connor is a story which utilizes caricatures of people to reveal some aspects of character that all readers can identify with . While the characters on the literal level seem too unreasonably stereotyped to be real , some of their behaviors and responses are actually very similar to those of all humanity . For example , the Grandmother begins as the quintessential nagging , hyper-critical , self-absorbed old woman that everyone prefers to ignore . However , her constant spouting of religious maxims and her ability

to use her holier-than-thou attitude for guilt purposes is a trait that many readers recognize in their own family members or even themselves , perhaps as the oppressed son , even . After the initial encounter with the Misfit , these stereotypical demeanors fade away , and the real personality of the characters can come through . This is similar to the concept that people 's true selves come through in times of great trial or emergency . The bratty children clam up in fear , and the grandmother begins to treat the Misfit with an almost caring respect , which he doesn 't buy , of course . Her ultimate attempt to save ' the Misfit from sin fails , just as her attempt to win loyalty from her son by guilting him into doing her bidding fails . However , she is forced into thinking about someone else , in this case the Misfit

Where Are You Going , Where Have You Been ' by Joyce Carol Oates tells the story of a tough talking teen girl who is constantly concerned with the appearance she projects to the outside world . Her tough exterior is extremely believable , as many teens suffer from this underlying lack of confidence . However , her pursuit by the psychotic Arnold Friend forces her t realize that not everyone will fall for the tough and cool exterior . Arnold 's friendly exterior keeps her off guard just long enough for him to draw her in . He knows that deep inside she is scared and eager to this is how he wins her ultimate and fatal compliance . He had forced her to realize that she was not the tough chick she wanted to be , and she notes that she just felt empty The shell was cracked , and there was nothing inside

Both of these stories contrast the exterior of a person with his or her interior . In the face of a perilous situation , both the Grandmother and Connie realize they cannot fall back on their usual game . Both , then allow themselves to be victimized in the absence of any other choices...