“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Oates and “The Kite Runner” by Hosseini

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Comparing and contrasting both stories
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

“Where are you going, where have you been?” is a book by Joyce Carol Oates while “The kite runner” is a book by Khaled Hosseini. These are two different books written by two different reputable authors. Both authors have shown their quality in the act of writing. However, while Joyce Oates book talks about an average American girl named Connie, Khaled Hosseini’s book talks about Amir and Hassan two Afghan boys.

The theme of both books is about two different individuals who are brought up in different places under similar circumstances. Connie the main character in “where are you going, where have you been?” is brought up in an environment where her parents are average citizens and are capable of giving her a good upbringing but she is not happy due to the strained relationship between her and her family members. (Oates 1966) While in Khaled Hosseini’s “The kite runner”, Amir the son of a rich Afghan merchant grows up under similar circumstances of not being a happy boy despite his father’s wealth. (Hosseini, 2003) This is due to Amir’s sour relationship with his father. Both characters respectively believed their sibling or friends were loved better than them. Connie believed her elder sister June was loved more than her while Amir believed his friend and half brother Hassan was loved more than him.

Comparing and contrasting both stories

Using this theme, a thematic analysis will be written on both stories by comparing and contrasting how each author shows quality in writing through drama and fiction.

Connie the main character in “where are you going, where have you been?” Joyce Oates is a fifteen years old girl in a happy successful family. Connie believed she was a very pretty girl but who did not get love and affection from her family especially her mother. Alone in her world of imagination, Connie felt her mother and aunties preferred her older sister June who was twenty-four years old and did virtually everything according to her mother and Aunties. (Oates 1966) June also worked as a secretary in Connie’s high school. The two sisters were the total opposite of each other. While Connie the younger sister bothered with looks, the elder sister June did not. And Connie thought of her as being steady, chunky and plain. (Oates 1966) In Connie’s world, she felt alone and unhappy in her family because she was not given her desired freedom. She felt she never had her desired liberty at home and she was happier when she was with her peers. (Oates 1966)

Connie would have preferred to be given the same liberty given to her by her best girlfriend’s father. For her, life could not have been better than walking through stores at the shopping plaza and going to the movies. While they were alone a few times, Connie and her best girlfriend used the freedom given to them to tease and flirt with boys. In her childish imagination, she wished boys looked like movie actors with dazzling smiles and cute black hair. Her peaceful real world provided by her parents was not appreciated by Connie. (Oates 1966)

Connie’s wrong conception about her family put a strain on her relationship with her family especially her mother whom she had contempt for. According to Connie, her mother disgusted her to the point that she sometimes wished they would both die just to end it all. Having liberty was Connie’s idea of love and affection from her family. She lived a life that was often filled with daydreams. (Oates 1966)

In contrast to Joyce Oates’ “where are you going, where have you been?” Khaled Hosseini’s “The kite runner” talks about Amir and Hassan who were both half brothers but never knew until later in Amir’s adult life when he discovered them. In their youthful lives, Amir was told Hassan was the son of his father’s servant Ali. Nonetheless, the difference in family backgrounds did not affect their friendship. Amir believed his father whom he referred to as Baba loved his friend Hassan more than him. Despite living in wealth and affluence, there was a strained family relationship between Amir and his Father. (Hosseini, 2003)

Amir and Hassan’s joy and happiness were interrupted by Assef. Assef was an older boy who was a bully, rapist and molester. Assef harassed Amir and Hassan but Hassan threatened to shoot Assef with his slingshot. A threat that was later carried out by Hassan’s son Sohrab. Assef left the duo alone but not without threatening to make Hassan pay dearly. (Hosseini, 2003) He carried out his threat by raping Hassan while Amir watched from a nearby distance. Amir believed his fear and inability to help or save his friend Hassan from the bully Assef, was a cowardly act that made him feel ashamed about it it. He was also afraid to tell his father about what had happened to Hassan due to their already strained relationship as father and son. Amir’s shame to tell his father about Assef’s evil deed caused him guilt around his friend Hassan. He tried to make his father send Hassan away but failed. (Hosseini, 2003) So Amir lived with guilt and shame simultaneously. Their stay in Afghanistan was interrupted due to war. The war was caused by the invasion of the Soviets into Afghanistan. (Hosseini, 2003)

Conclusion

The central lesson in both stories is about problems encountered in family relationships between parents and their children. In Khaled Hosseini’s “The kite runner” Amir had a troubled relationship with his father whom he believed loved his friend Hassan more. He believed his father’s love for Hassan was a result of Hassan’s bravery and it made him feel ashamed and unworthy for not being as smart as his friend Hassan. (Hosseini, 2003) Then in Joyce Oates “where are you going, where have you been?” Connie also had a troubled relationship with her mother. All efforts made by Connie’s mother to reach out to her daughter were thwarted by Connie. (Oates 1966)

Both characters of the two stories misunderstood correction and comparison. Connie felt her mother was always comparing her with her older sister June by referring to June as an example whenever she went wrong. (Oates 1966) But in reality, the reference was meant to encourage Connie and not belittle her. Unfortunately, Connie misunderstood this act and interpreted it differently. (Oates 1966) Likewise was Amir’s case. His father Baba was the biological father of both Amir and Hassan respectively. He only wanted the best for both of them like every well-meaning parent would. This was the real intent when Baba referred to Hassan as an example. (Hosseini, 2003)

Amir and Connie respectively lived in isolated worlds believing they were not loved equally by their siblings and friends. However, both characters were wrong about their assumptions.

Reference List

Hosseini, K. (2003). The Kite Runner, 1210-1576. New York: Riverhead; New York State University Press.

Oates Carol, J. (1966). Where are you going, Where have you been? 1110-2314. San Diego: Epoch; San Diego state university press.

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“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Oates and “The Kite Runner” by Hosseini

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