Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oats is a short story that is based on a true event that happened in the 1960’s. The allegory came from the man named Charles Schmid, who was a serial killer in which he was known for his ability to get the girls to fall for him. As for the story, Connie, the protagonist, wants to grow up and live in a fast pace and experience adulthood. She soon meets up with a guy named Arnold Friend, the antagonist, who is in search of finding someone to kill or looking for another innocent soul to take. In terms of the story, the author uses a type of writing that differentiates what is reality versus fantasy by using the literary devices of symbolism of Arnold Friend, setting of the music Connie …show more content…
The music is contain to be a pervasive motif in the story, from the 'jingling' of the girl's bracelets, to the music at the drive-in restaurant "that made everything so good…like music at a church service" (Caldwell 2). Everywhere Connie is going, she always is playing music herself or she hear music from her surrounds, in which it distracts her from whatever she is doing. This shows how she is very dependent on music. “The music serves as an immediate bridge between the two parties, opening the door to their conversation” (Caldwell 2).” Leading Connie with music gets her “turned-on” to Arnold Friends because he plays the same music as what she was playing early. Overall, the music shows how it could be also metaphorically described as a drug because Connie would be in her own zone not knowing where she was …show more content…
The allusion shows up on Arnold Friends car with the numbers of 33, 19, and 17. It is from the bible of “the Old Testaments of Judges 19:17 and Genesis 19:17. The idea of the number 33 is referring to the fact that Judges is the thirty-third book from the end of the Old Testament” (Piwinski 1). Judge 19:17 states "And when he raised his eyes, he saw the traveler in the open square of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going, and where do you come from?” in the New International Version. In the sentence itself, it shows where the title gets it significance. Although in those chapter, it is explained how Abraham is leaving in search of the “promised land,” and in just like him Connie left her entire family to be with Arnold Friend. Also, “the numbers 33, 19, 17 painted on the car may be a secret code to the ages of Arnold Friend's previous victims, suggested to Oates by the ages—seventeen, fifteen, and thirteen—of the girls killed by Charles Schmid” (Coulthard 4). In that being said, the author I might be showing a message on how it doesn’t matter what age you are, that once you get into the concept of meeting a psychopathic killer, life is at your own
If you like a little thrilling romance, than a nonfiction story “ Where are you going, where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates is the story for you. I am going to write about how Arnold Friend shows symbolic satan through dialogue, plot, and character. Arnold Friend shows symbolic satan through character throughout the story. Bob Dylan influenced Arnold Friend in his conversation with Connie his promises, threats, and the careless confidence which he seduces her(pg.200-01). Arnold Friend with Connie was talking about that if she picked up the phone he was gonna come in her house and get her.
Joyce Carol Oates’ story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” includes several aspects that could easily be analyzed and interpreted in different ways. One of the most important and perhaps more obvious aspects is Oates’ character Connie. Connie’s home life, safe place, and epiphany moment are all key components to understanding the story and its meaning. Connie’s home life is the first angle that is important to the story. Fifteen- year- old Connie is a rebellious teen who does not get along with her family.
Fantasy vs. Reality The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, explores the supernaturality, uncertainty, and the unknowing. All is shown through the display of sexual violence, deception, and vulnerability. Although, due to the supernatural aspects of the short story, there is blur between reality and fantasy. To begin, some readers may believe that Connie, the main character, actually experiences the presence of antagonists, Arnold Friend and Ellie Oscar.
there are a variety of symbols used. For example, Oates points out that “not only “33” is part of Arnold’s “secret code” of numbers, but his sign “X” that seems to hover in the air, is also one of the symbols for Christ” (Wilson). The author is explaining the symbol as being related to the church. The author describes how the “X” is hovering in the air meaning that it is remaining in one place. According to Oates, the sign of the “X” was a symbol of friendship.
Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a chilling tale based on true events that occurred in the 1960’s. The story is about a young girl’s daydreams that turn into a nightmare as she face the evils of reality in the form of Arnold Friend. Arnold Friend represents supernatural figure and he has set his sight on Connie. He will take Connie from the safety of her home and childhood to the “excitement “of the real world.
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Literary Analysis The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Is about a 15 year old lass who spends all her time with friends down at the local drive in. The story,written by Joyce Carol Oates, is a short story about psychological realism. Joyce Carol Oates is one of the most well-known writers of our time.
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates is an important story for people to read because it shows the importance of consent. In the story we read about a fifteen year old named Connie. She enjoys hanging out with her friends and doing things on her own just like any other adolescent. One evening Connie is hanging out with her friends and she catches the eye of an older man. This man’s name is Arnold Friend, he is very controlling and manipulative.
Home is where the heart is, but what if home is no longer safe? Joyce Carol Oates explores this concept in her 1966 short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. On surface level, this story appears to discuss a rebellious young girl named Connie and her confrontation with Arnold Friend, a stalker. The ending leaves the reader to assume that Arnold Friend plans to sexually assault the young girl.
Arnold Friend’s Biblical Allusions In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates tells a story of a young, innocent teenage girl, Connie who enjoys listening to music and begins exploring her sexuality and being with boys “the way it was in the movies and promised in songs” (Oates 198). In fact she catches the attention of Arnold Friend one night while at the mall meeting up with a boy. Not knowing he would appear in her life, Arnold strangely shows up at her house assuming they made plans to get together. His character is seen as the devil.
Maria Garcia Professor Galindo English 1302-NC8 6 November 2014 Where Did She Go, Where Was She Taken? “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by author Joyce Carol Oates and published in 1966. This short story is about a fifteen year old girl named Connie who experiments with her sexuality and because of that, she thinks of herself as a mature adult rather than a naïve little girl who still has a lot of growing up to do. She ends up catching the attention of a man by the name of Arnold Friend who is the epitome of creepy. He comes to her home knowing everything there is to know about Connie, and through his fierce manipulation and crafty ways he gets her to come with him, where it can be assumed that she is going to be raped,
In her short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates utilizes a variety of literary devices to strengthen the story in its entirety. This short story is essentially about a 16-year-old girl named Connie and the conflict between her desire to be mature and her desire to remain an adolescent. Throughout the story, the audience sees this conflict through her words in addition to through her behavior. The audience is also introduced to Arnold Friend, a rather peculiar man, who essentially kidnaps her. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates functions and is additionally meaningful because of her usage of literary devices.
Instead of realizing the danger that she was in, Connie was focused on what Arnold Friend was wearing and how attractive he was. Connie’s obsession with finding her own sexuality overpowered her gut feeling of danger. In an analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Barbara Wiedemann discusses how the antagonist Arnold Friend is based upon serial killer Charles Schmid, who murdered several young girls during the 1960s. In the analysis, Wiedemann
In Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” the main protagonist finds herself in a very hostile situation. With an all most fateful encounter with a man known as Arnold Friend. Forcing her to choose whether to run off with him or taking her by force. This man known as Arnold Friend to the reader comes off as almost a demon. A person who uses many temptations, word play, and threats to take advantage of the young protagonist Connie.
The Grape family suffers from quite a bit of mental illness. Arnie is the most obvious example of this, but it is also clear that Mama has major depressive disorder triggered by the sudden suicide of her late husband (this stress related triggering of a mental disorder is plausible as this complies with the diathesis-stress model: individuals may be biologically predisposed to an illness, but require a stressor for that illness to manifest itself) Gilbert is also suffering from either dysthymia (a type of depression with mild symptoms but can last for years) or a type of sensory overload called burnout. Burnout is when the amount of constant stressors on a person’s sensory system causes the system to essentially overload, creating a state of
The story “Where Are You Going, Where have you been” is about Connie a girl who lives in the U.S. She goes out with her friends and lives an ordinary life. Her mother is alway comparing her to her sister. Her parents are don’t chaperone the youth in the evenings. She falls into the hands of Arnold Friend, who tries to abduct her.