ipl-logo

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

818 Words4 Pages

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” had people in history asking questions of good and evil. Why do people have to suffer in the world? Arnold Friend is more than just an individual. He is a strong symbol of death, happiness, and everything that opposes the life we live in. This story was set in the context of the 1960s and the 1970s America and shows how strong violence is built into society (Laura Kalpakian). “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” has a substantial amount of imagery, theme, and symbolism throughout the whole story. In the story, the narrator informs us of music playing in the background “like music in a church service; it was something to depend upon” (Oates). Music is located in numerous places throughout …show more content…

The car and the phrases are symbols of Arnold Friend being unusual and just not quite right in the cranium. As soon as Connie laid eye on the flashy car, she knew then that Arnold Friend may be a treacherous individual. The golden car was so bold and flashy that it made her eyes sting intensively. All of the ideas from the music, uncanny phrases, (including one that is out of fashion) “Man the flying saucers”, triggers Connie's senses something is just not normal about Arnold. Although Arnold says he is the same age as she, it was not very convincing to Connie at the juncture. As the truth about Arnold's nature progresses, the car becomes a symbol of the clandestine Character that Arnold honestly is in the story. Everything in this story happens mainly in the doorway of Connie’s home. Connie tentatively stands outside on the steps, then speedily hurries back inside when Arnold seems to become aggressive. Anxious, Connie remains by the door inside of her home not showing that she wanted to move somewhere sheltered in her home. The house which Connie lives in symbolizes a world of family gatherings and sweet traditions she will forever cherish. Her home cannot provide her with the protection from the appalling threats of Arnold Friend whom cannot intrude her home, but can only seduce Connie to come out of

Show More
Related
603 Words | 3 Pages

The point of view of the story, which is third person limited, adds more of a suspenseful tone to the short story as the author does exceptionally well in revealing Connie’s thoughts and actions. Furthermore when the author writes “She was panting. The kitchen looked like a place never seen before, some room she had run on the inside but that wasn’t good enough, wasn’t going to help her”, the reader can vividly imagine how adrenaline filled Connie felt and this gives the overall story life. Symbols remain very evident in this novel, from the Arnold Friend written on the side of the car, to the numbers “33, 19, and 17” that Friend read off. 33. 19, and 17, numbers in which Connie didn’t realize much of and what Friend referred to as a “secret code” can actually mean a lot more.

Read More
1018 Words | 5 Pages

Myles Hypse February 3rd, 2017 English 1B 3:30-4:40pm Two Psychopaths Both of these stories give the reader a good look into the eyes of two psychopaths, who both refuse to take no for an answer. One of them, Arnold Friend although at first appearing friendly, is nothing more than a malicious predator, similar in kind to The Misfit, who greets his victims in a much more sinister way. The two characters, when stood side by side, almost seemed as they become one, yet are polar opposites. When one compares the character Arnold Friend to that of The Misfit, more similarities come forward than differences.

Read More
1041 Words | 5 Pages

Oates also describes Arnold Friend’s Car as having distinct characteristics such as, “being painted bright gold” (Oates 2), “ARNOLD FRIEND was written in tarlike black letters on the side, with a drawing of a round, grinning face that reminded Connie of a pumpkin, except it wore sunglasses” (Oates 3), and “the left rear fender had been smashed and around it was written, on the gleaming gold background: DONE BY CRAZY WOMAN DRIVER.” (Oates 3). By describing everything in the story in great detail, Oates creates a differently presented story straying away from O’Connor’s southern dialect

Read More
659 Words | 3 Pages

The term oikonomia is defined as the law of the house. The economist is the person who will take on the job to create the laws of the house. As we see today, our economy is a massive makeup of various ways to manage our society. Whether managed properly or mismanaged, the economist influences their economy strongly. Economy in general can function in many different ways, as we see in the literature works, “Gimpel The Fool”, “Where Are You Going?

Read More
694 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More
1428 Words | 6 Pages

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.

Read More
169 Words | 1 Pages

People desires can vary from person to person. Some want power, other want to find the love of their lives. However getting what want is difficult some never fully receive their deepest longings to meet themselves fell complete. Some desires have consequences, they can be small, however, others have terrible ramifications. In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oates is about the main character Connie and her life.

Read More
1120 Words | 5 Pages

All of this comes together to create the place she feels she is going to die at. The blue sky she was looking up at connects to Arnold calling her his blue eyed girl. The short story has allegory, everything has a double meaning like the dent in Arnold's car “Done by a crazy woman driver”, and how the only drivers are male. Connie’s father drives the family to the barbeque and Connie's friend’s dad drives them to the shopping plaza.

Read More
984 Words | 4 Pages

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

Read More
854 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
804 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

Where Have You Been?"   are littered with different types of symbolism. Some obvious and some not so much. With that being said in both stories the symbolism is meant to set up the theme of the oppression of women during this broad time period. In both stories by the end both women main characters face the fact that neither one of them are in control of their owns lives and are at the will of men.

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

Friend himself. There’s so much symbolism going around this one character and his beloved car alone, that one could write a separate paper on the topic. Speaking of yet more symbolism, we get finally get a formal introduction to Arnold Friend, who’s name alone symbolizes trouble. Since Arnold Friend is symbolizing Satan a known shapeshifter, one could do a little reading into the several interpretations of his name. One, An old friend, this being Eddie, the guy she had burgers with at the mall.

Read More
1255 Words | 6 Pages

Connie uses her attitude and appearance to attract boys. But she is not aware of the reality of the society in which she lives. Connie is living in a fantasy world, but when she gets trapped by Arnold Friend she is put into a scary reality. There

Read More
657 Words | 3 Pages

The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates can be interpreted in a multitude of ways due to its ambiguity. A psychological lens, however, provides the most accurate viewpoint for analyzing the story as it clarifies certain obscure scenes and actions of Connie. One psychological issue of Connie that is easily inferred from the beginning of the story is her insecurity about her looks. Connie constantly worries about the way that she looks and takes any opportunity to do so, “craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people's faces to make sure her own was all right” (1).

Read More

More about Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

Related Topics

Open Document