“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is an eerie short story written by Joyce Carol Oates. The story, published in the fall 1966 edition of Epoch Magazine generated a big buzz (Ptalzgraf 221). Oates dedicated the story to Bob Dylan because she was inspired to write it after listening to his song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”(“Where”Shmoop). She was also inspired by the gruesome serial killer Charles Schmid. Joyce Carol Oates most famous short story is “Where Are you Going, Where Have You Been.”
Joyce Carol Oates was born on June, 16 1938 in upstate New York. As a little girl she developed a love for writing. Once she received her first typewriter she started writing short stories (“Where”Windy). Oates wrote in a variety of genres, but …show more content…
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” only men drive while women are the passengers. When Arnold Friend went to Connie’s house to offer her a ride, he was trying to gain control over her and her actions. Friend’s car is a symbol of his persona, and he uses it as an instrument of control. Like him, his car is kept up to high maintenance but also strange looking at the same time. Friend’s car is gold and covered in teenage slogans (“Where” University). To Connie the car appears to be a little awry. She starts questioning his identity after she notices an outdated slogan on his car. The title of the story refers to a question a parent would ask a child. Connie’s parents never seem to ask her where she 's going, or where has she been. All Connie’s mother does is constantly criticize her actions and decisions. The title of the short story uses irony to show her parents absence of control & presence in her …show more content…
One day Connie’s family goes on a trip and she decides to stay home. A strange guy named Arnold Friend shows up at Connie’s house in his gold convertible. At first she think he is cute so she flirts with him. The. She realizes he is at her house to kidnap her. Before she could call for help it was too late. He lured her out of the house and threatens her and her family’s life if she does not listen to him. Connie has no choice but to obey everything he commands of her. In the last scene of the story, Connie is walking outside to Arnold’s car. This shows that she will never return. From reading this story a reader can learn how acting older and hanging around the wrong crowd can get you situations you cannot get out of. In today 's time period there are many young girls who dare boys much older than them because they want to feel more mature than they really
Joyce Carol Oates was born on June, 16 1938 in upstate New York. As a little girl she developed a love for writing. Once she received her first typewriter she started writing short stories (“Where”Windy). Oates wrote in a variety of genres, but …show more content…
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” only men drive while women are the passengers. When Arnold Friend went to Connie’s house to offer her a ride, he was trying to gain control over her and her actions. Friend’s car is a symbol of his persona, and he uses it as an instrument of control. Like him, his car is kept up to high maintenance but also strange looking at the same time. Friend’s car is gold and covered in teenage slogans (“Where” University). To Connie the car appears to be a little awry. She starts questioning his identity after she notices an outdated slogan on his car. The title of the story refers to a question a parent would ask a child. Connie’s parents never seem to ask her where she 's going, or where has she been. All Connie’s mother does is constantly criticize her actions and decisions. The title of the short story uses irony to show her parents absence of control & presence in her …show more content…
One day Connie’s family goes on a trip and she decides to stay home. A strange guy named Arnold Friend shows up at Connie’s house in his gold convertible. At first she think he is cute so she flirts with him. The. She realizes he is at her house to kidnap her. Before she could call for help it was too late. He lured her out of the house and threatens her and her family’s life if she does not listen to him. Connie has no choice but to obey everything he commands of her. In the last scene of the story, Connie is walking outside to Arnold’s car. This shows that she will never return. From reading this story a reader can learn how acting older and hanging around the wrong crowd can get you situations you cannot get out of. In today 's time period there are many young girls who dare boys much older than them because they want to feel more mature than they really