The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker Joyce Carol Oates Reads “The Frenzy”
Mar 16, 2025
Joyce Carol Oates, a celebrated author of over seventy works and recipient of the National Humanities Medal, reads her haunting story “The Frenzy.” She delves into the complexities of relationships, exploring a man’s emotional upheaval during a drive with his younger lover along the Jersey Shore. Oates navigates themes of suburban discontent and the turmoil of an impulsive affair, culminating in a dramatic and tense escape that leaves listeners captivated by the characters' choices and vulnerabilities.
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Reckless Driving
- Cassidy is driving with Brianna, feeling reckless and unlike himself.
- Brianna senses his unusual behavior and questions him, but he dismisses her concerns.
Feeding Frenzy
- Cassidy describes a past chartered boat trip from Provincetown where he witnessed a feeding frenzy.
- The experience left him appalled by the ocean's savagery and the ceaseless motion of the boat.
Hidden Phone
- Cassidy wants to share the feeding frenzy story with Brianna, but she prefers silence.
- Brianna is secretly using her phone, hiding it from Cassidy.
