Analysis Of Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” has been discussed, at length, throughout the literary and academic community since it was first published in 1966. Literary critics have discussed a variety of analogies between fairytale, or mythological, characters, and the characters in Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Oates uses subtle, and sometimes obvious, references to a variety of childhood fairytales and mythological characters.
Oates has admitted to a variety of influences that helped her create the award-winning short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?.” Schulz and Rockwood’s piece “In Fairyland, without a Map: Connie’s Exploration Inward …show more content…
Like most fairytales, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” has an evil villain, Arnold Friend. It can be said that Oates may have created Arnold Friend to closely resemble other fairytale villains. In a literary analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” Melissa Murphy has an explanation as to why Oates might have done this. Murphy says, “In a sense, the character of Arnold Friend brings the magic to the story. Like many fairytale villains, Arnold Friend wielded magic of the evil variety. After much scrutiny, it seems that Arnold is not just a simple villain” (Murphy). Arnold Friend, like some fairytale villains, appears to have supernatural powers. Arnold knew Connie’s name, “…I know your name and all about you, lots of things” (Oates). He knew that Connie was home alone and her father was at a barbecue, “He ain’t coming. He’s at a barbecue” (Oates). He even appeared to have the ability to know what was happening at the barbecue. Arnold said, “…Right now they’re uh – they’re drinking. Sitting around” and “There’s your sister in a blue dress, huh? And high heels…” and “And your mother’s helping some fat woman with the corn, they’re cleaning the corn – husking the corn” (Oates). Even though Arnold couldn’t cast magical spells, Oates definitely gives her readers the impression that Arnold Friend is somewhat …show more content…
A satyr is a half-man, half-goat “demi-god from Greek and Roman mythology” (Easterly). In Greek and Roman mythology, the satyr is often seen playing a flute. It usually roams the land with a companion, playing music, seducing women, and drinking wine (Easterly). Like a satyr, Arnold Friend had a companion that he traveled with, Ellie. Furthermore, Arnold seduced women. Satyrs were known to seduce women through their music (Easterly). Consequently, Arnold Friend played the same radio station as what Connie was listening to, seducing Connie when he first arrived. Joan Easterly writes, “The music works like a charm to make Connie lower her defenses because it is familiar and reminds her of the drive-in where ‘the music was always in the background’” (Easterly). Arnold Friend’s appearance, although not half-animal, is in many ways similar to a satyr. Satyrs typically had horns growing out of their head. Arnold wore a wig, possibly covering up his horns. Satyrs had hooves for feet, causing them to stumble as they walked. Similarly, Arnold stumbled as he walked, perhaps caused by having hooves instead of feet. The reader doesn’t know for sure, because his boots may have hid the hooves (Easterly). Joan Easterly, a literary critic, believes that Arnold Friend is depicted as an actual satyr. Easterly writes, “However, the irony inherent in Oates’s