Different, Yet The Same

     Even though the short stories, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” “Good Country People,” and “Everyday Use” have drastic differences, they are more alike than we may initially think.  Irony is ever-present in all three stories, which unites them in a way.  

     In “Where Are You Going…” the irony is found in the names of the protagonist and the antagonist.  The name of the main girl (aka damsel in distress) is Connie, which is short for Constance.  Now, symbolically that means that she should be steadfast in all of her ways and basically consistent in life.  BUT au contraire, she is quite the opposite:  “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home …” (Oates 673).  At home, Connie plays the innocent card (you know, acting “childlike”), but when she’s out on the town with her friend, she tries to be sexy and mature.  This burning desire to appear older and attractive is what eventually leads Connie to her antagonist, Arnold Friend.  The irony here is that Arnold is no friend at all, but really a...wait for it…fiend (an evil spirit; devil…gasp!)!  He appeals to her by dressing “the way all of them dressed,” and making himself appear to be a friend at first, but then he reveals his true colors...which leads to her destruction.

     Sticking with the theme of ironic names, this literary technique is also utilized in “Good Country People.”  In this case, the main character’s given name is Joy.  The irony here is that she isn't a very joyful person.  This is no surprise considering the fact that her mother, Mrs. Hopewell, still considers her to be a child “though she was thirty-two years old and highly educated” (O’Connor 188).  Yeah, this would make me upset too.  The epitome of angry child outbursts:  “If you want me, here I am—LIKE I AM” (190).  That sure doesn't scream happiness. Also, Joy is also unsatisfied with her name, which leads her to her act of defiance:  getting her name legally changed to Hulga, which, not to be rude, is more befitting for a grotesque character whose wooden leg gets stolen (that was just bizarre).

     Yeah, you guessed it…there is also name irony in “Everyday Use.”  Dee is the oldest daughter in this story, and after converting to Islam, she changes her name to Wangero, which is an African name.  Dee claims that she changes her name because she “couldn't bear it any longer being named after the people who oppress [her]” (Walker 746).  This is ironic because the name Dee was passed down the generations from women who loved her and did not oppress her, beginning with her great-grandmother. (On another note, her own mother can’t pronounce the name, so I guess Dee couldn't pick an easier name…how rude.)

     In essence, these stories are one and the same...well kind of.  You get the idea. :-)