Summary Of Short Story 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'
Living “just an ordinary girl’s” life was no longer the lifestyle for a girl named Connie. Once a man told her that she was gonna be his, her life turned. Connie was no longer able to forget about reality instead she was forced into adulthood by a man named Arnold Friend. Connie is the main character in the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, by Joyce Carol Oates. The story is mainly about how Arnold Friend, a sort of stalker of Connie’s, comes to her house.
While “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” may seem like your average “coming of age” story at
The story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been”, By Joyce Carol Oates takes place during the summer time of 1966. The story is set in several locations for example the house, the car, and the movies. In the story it’s the summer time and connie goes through some rough patches with her mom. Connie is fifteen years old and is a freshman in high school. Her mother constantly tells her that her older sister June who is 24, is better than her and wants her to be more like her.
Where are you going? Where have you been? is about a beautiful teenager named Connie. She does not have the best relationship with her parents but she tries her best to get through each day. Connie and her group of friends usually go to a drive in to hangout and eat.
Arnold Friend was there to take Connie away; away from her childhood and home, which never quite felt like home until her fantasy world deteriorated and reality set it. The next moment is pivotal, this is when Connie forgets her hedonism and becomes something of much more substance. Before Connie studies Arnold Friend’s abnormal personality and erratic behavior she is fascinated by him and even worries that she is ill prepared for this
The story Where Are You Going Where Have You Been has similar elements to fairy tales. However critic Christina Gills says that the reader is “ forced to consider the distinctions between fairy tale and seduction narrative” (Gillis Gale). There are differences between a fairy tale and this short story. Differences include that the girl gets the prince and the villain gets either killed or locked up, and they live happily ever after. In real life this doesn't happen, the so called villain can get away and come after it's victim again.
In the story WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? By Joyce Carol Oates is an impeccable story. The story is so vivid and wildly written it takes you into a whole new world. When I first started reading this my whole mind when into a deep thought. I visualized myself there during every event that occurred.
Leading Towards The End Of Her Life Would Connie had continued being stubborn and obsessed with herself if she knew what the consequences were going to be? In this story called “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” it involves a young teenage girl Name Connie who wants to act older and an old guy name Arnold Friend who is trying to seem young, to get Connie’s attention and ends up figuring out her information. The consequences that she gets put her life in danger and does not make it, to continue with her life. This story is about a 15-year-old girl who has a “habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors” (p.176) and can’t stop looking at herself because she thinks that she is pretty. She has long blond hair that drew anyone’s attention and would wear charm jiggling bracelets (Oates, 177).
Again, the reader sees traditional values placed against changing times, reinforcing Connie’s internal struggle to define
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” is about a teenager named Connie who is trying to come to terms with her transformation from childhood to adulthood. Through this process, Connie attempts to act older than she is an tries to gain the attention of boys. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Oates portrays Connie as obsessed with men to symbolize how one’s obsession and narcissistic attitude can cause danger to seem surreal. In the short story, Carol Oates describes Connie as having two different personalities, one being a narcissistic attitude.
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.
So, he becomes upset upon hearing Sonny's response to his advice, which indicates that Sonny's ultimate passion for music makes Sonny think he is free to do whatever pleases him: "I think people ought to do what they want, what else are they a live for?'' (Baldwin qtd. in Schwen and Dorothy 344) . Another story that represents teens' confusion is Joyce Carol Qates's "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", where a young girl, Connie, pretends to be adult to attract boys' attention since she defines her life by her relations with boys.
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.
In the coming of age story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to foreshadow fifteen-year-old Connie’s unfortunate, yet untimely fate. While one may think that the conflict stems from Connie’s promiscuity, it is clear to see her promiscuity is only a result to a much bigger conflict, her mother’s constant nagging and disapproval, alongside the lack of attention from her father. the author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl such as Connie goes elsewhere to find to find the love, attention, and approval that she lacks at home. All which is vital for her growth and wellbeing as a person.
I believe that in the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” false perception V.S. reality is seen. The main theme in this short story is the conflict between fantasy and reality. One of the main characters in this short story is Connie. She tries very hard to create an adult persona.
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