"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates. On the surface the narrative is fairly generic. The plot follows a 15 year old girl named Connie who is a typical teen - shallow, and self consumed. She spends her days at the mall, listening to the radio, and boy watching. However, it soon becomes clear that this story has a very dark undertone. Joyce Carol Oates has commented that this short story is a "realistic allegory" and that she uses characters in the narrative to represent abstract ideas. A common theme in much of Oates' work is her belief that the 20th century is spiritually empty. That people have no "spirit" of their own and therefore are easily influenced and harmed. In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Oates' creates the character of Arnold Friend to be the antagonist. He is intense and powerful, and as the story continues he is like a dark persistent cloud that weighs heavy on Connie and the reader. Arnold Friend is the physical embodiment of the devil and his omnipotence allows him to know and abuse Connie's insecurities for his own uses.
[...] Arnold Friend tries hard to lure Connie away. He romances her like a young lover complimenting how she looks, sharing her taste in music and friends. But she still refuses and he play his last card. He states the boy for you, and like I said, you come out here nice like a lady and give me your hand, and nobody else gets hurt, I mean, your nice old bald- headed daddy and your mummy and your sister in her high heels. [...]
[...] ARNOLD FRIEND “Where Are You Going, Where Have You is a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates. On the surface the narrative is fairly generic. The plot follows a 15 year old girl named Connie who is a typical teen - shallow, and self consumed. She spends her days at the mall, listening to the radio, and boy watching. However, it soon becomes clear that this story has a very dark undertone. Joyce Carol Oates has commented that this short story is a “realistic allegory” and that she uses characters in the narrative to represent abstract ideas. [...]
[...] Arnold Friend uses Connie's insecurities to make her come to him. First of all Arnold uses the word when asking Connie questions. If Connie answers no she seems stupid, so it forces her to constantly agree with what Arnold is saying or asking. Connie is a normal teenage girl and is concerned about her looks. When Arnold first pulls up Connie is described as heart began to pound and her fingers snatched at her hair, checking it, and she whispered, "Christ. [...]
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