What are the motifs in The Dead by James Joyce?

Absence of authority is a recurring idea. At first glance, Joyce Carol Oates’ story may seem free of political context, yet its setting in mid-century suburban America speaks to a wider understanding. The late 1950s and early 1960s saw unconventional ideas about sex, love, power, and race undermine traditional sources of moral authority. This is well reflected in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been.”