Joyoce Carol Oates

• Joyce Carol Oates


• Born June 16, 1938


• Not dead yet


• Birthplace: Lockport, New York


• Her mom is Corolina Oates a housewife and her dad is Frederic Oates a manufacturing worker. They lived in the lower middle class. She was raised as a catholic though is a atheist today. Married Raymond J. Smith in 1962.


• Attended Syracuse university on a scholarship. After graduating as valedictorian, she earned an M.A in English at the university of Wisconsin in1962.


• Became a novelist, short story writer, poet, literary critic, professor, editor.


• Awards: 1967 O. Henry award, 1970 National Book award, 1973 O. Henry award.
  One of her most important work is the novel called Them. It is about the struggles of the American life trough tree characters named Loretra, Maureen and Jules. They are attempting to reach normality and the American dream through marriage and money. Later on in the story Jules, Maureen and a character named Betty are all sent to a catholic school in Detroit. Soon Jules is expelled from the catholic school and sent to a public school away from his sisters.
  This literary work is significant because it won the National Book Award in1970. It talks about the difficulties of the American working class. Also the tragedies of the lower class in World War Two.