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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Character Analysis Essay

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Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been is a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates, centered on the protagonist 15 year old Connie. In this short story Oates sets the frame-work for religious allegory- the seduction of a young woman coming to terms with the hand she has been dealt as a result of her choices [you need to something here] similar to that of Eve (Urbanski, 1978). In the first paragraph, we are introduced to Connie who is an eccentric, and spoiled fifteen year old with middle class parents. We become aware of the fact that Connie has an unhappy home life, the story states that her father “was away at work most of the time," and he "didn't bother talking much to them,"(422); as a result, Connie never received any form of love …show more content…

Oates portrays Arnold as an opposing force within Connie’s innocent fantasy world. Arnold is well aware of the fact that he can easily manipulate Connie and effortlessly corrupt the world in which she lives in, and nothing can prevent him from doing just that. He is the predator and Connie is his prey, he is committed to luring Connie either willingly or by force. Every extraneous detail about the appearance and behavior of Arnold epitomizes his dark and suspicious personality. A physical description of Arnold’s appearance indicates that he has “shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig” (424). His hair differs from Connie’s whose golden blonde hair is symbol of her innocence. When Oates describes the appearance of Arnold’s hair resembling that of a wig it is implied that this is a cover-up of some sort on his end. Arnold’s sunglasses send back images similar to that of a looking glass and they shield his eyes. The fact that his eyes are not visible to someone else it is a type of disguise he uses to cover up who he actually is. His sunglasses also constitute as symbol. His car symbolizes the dark nature of his appearance. The gold on his car epitomizes a flashy type of persona in order for him to appeal to younger

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When reading the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Arnold Friend shows an obvious masquerade to readers. His act of deception to Connie shows that he has done this before, and has succeeded. He tricks Connie by changing his appearance to make himself look younger than he actually is, playing the same music she listens to, and tells her he knows who her friends and family are. Connie is an easy target for Arnold because she is very boy crazy.

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When AF first appears at Connie’s home, she sees his qualities that are similar to the boys she likes: they all wore, “tight faded jeans stuffed into black, scuff boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed how lean he was, and white pull-over shirt that was a little soiled and showed the hard small muscles of his arms and shoulders” (par. 46). This man could be dressing to look like a person she would like, almost as if he was trying to fit in with his surroundings. He might be wearing a disguise to better his appearance because if he went out as the Devil, people would avoid him. Connie soon realizes this man is not who he says. Connie confronts about his age and continues to see more oddities about AF, “he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig” (par. 16).

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Lauren Ziegler Prof. J. Campbell English 111-09 28 February 2018 The Plot Twist Around the Bend* "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates and "Encounters with Unexpected Animals" by Bret Anthony Johnston are short stories that describe events where the characters in compromising situations. They showed how one's outlook on life can be altered once a conflict or threat is presented. While both authors appeared to have this in common, their methods allowed for two different approaches. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" takes a focus on the main protagonist, Connie.

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“Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?”  was written by the author, Joyce Carol Oates, the protagonist in the story is a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl named Connie who feels she can not live up to her mother's expectations and feels that her mother mistreats her. Connie wishes her mom and herself were dead, to end the torment she feels. It seems that Connie doesn't have a fatherly figure in her life, her father works long hours and is barely home, and when he is home he buries his head into the newspaper.

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Oates’s biography explained her fiction writing as a mixture violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely fits the plot point of this story with both of her literary ingredients being present in not only Arnold Friend but in Connie as well. The Protagonist Connie is presented in a very self-centered way. She is obsessed with her looks and often fantasizes about all the boys she meets.

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Reluctantly, her parents allow her to stay home alone. A few hours later, a familiar gold jalopy pulls up to her house. The driver announces to Connie that his name is Arnold Friend. His unusual physical appearance, his tone of voice, and what he may symbolize frighten the Connie.

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Throughout the story, there are many instances: the illogical time and settings, the similarity between Arnold and Connie and the unrealistic events show that the meeting between Connie and Arnold Friend is a dream. The dream is also a preparation for Connie before she steps onto the stage of being an adult. Connie’s dream begins when she refuses to go to her aunt’s house for barbecue party. She stays home, and under the warmness of the sun, she begins her day dreaming about love and the boy she has met the night before. In the beginning, the author writes “Connie sat with her eyes closed in the sun…”

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He also is referred to with gold and red. The colors gold and silver are also involved in this book. Gold is related to being rich and prosperous. Silver also goes along with having material wealth.

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shows the readers that that vanity and lack of self-awareness can make some vulnerable and easily fall for the evilness of the world. Because Connie became vulnerable, she was easily persuaded by Arnold, who was portrayed as the Devil figure and the darkness that exists, to leave her the known safety of her home and to embark on the road to the unclear future. Oates’s story teaches the readers to be cautious of their surroundings and of the people that are unfamiliar to them that live in the same society. That is because even if someone appears to look a certain way they might have a mask that hides the true darkness and evilness that is in their body and

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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