“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” Rough Draft
In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, there are multiple ways to interpret what it is conveying. Joyce Carol Oates managed to make a story where the genre can be seen as “psychological realism” and “realistic allegory”. In it, the main character, named Connie, is on a search for independence be hanging out at a restaurant. Through further analysis, it can be revealed that Connie and Arnold’s relationship mirrors that of the famous myth Persephone and Hades; it also has Stockholm Syndrome-like qualities that are emphasized through the setting, plot, and characterization. The setting has connections to Stockholm Syndrome, like when Arnold is introducing himself to Connie. …show more content…
The music also has some Stockholm Syndrome-like traits with it. “He lifted his friend's arm and showed her the little transistor radio the boy was holding, and now Connie began to hear the music. It was the same program that was playing inside the house.” (Oates, 3) This is Arnold’s first attempt of trying to make Connie more relaxed. By playing the same music Connie likes, it might create a subconscious bond to him without him having to say a word. The setting is only a small part of how Arnold uses stockholm syndrome against …show more content…
One part is how Arnold is able to force Connie to go with him “for a ride in his car”. “...And the “encouraging words” Arnold Friend speaks are hypnotic enough to lure her out the doors”(Quirk, 419) This is the effect the stockholm syndrome has on Connie. It makes her not think rationally, thus her following Arnold out to his car. She also could have been traumatized enough by the situation she was in that she completely forgot that Arnold was a stranger and not a friend. The part where Arnold actually kidnaps Connie has a “Persephone and Hades” related events. “We’ll go out to a nice field, out in the country here where it smells so nice and it’s sunny… I’ll have my arms tight around you so you won’t need to try to get away…”(Oates, 9)In “Persephone and Hades”, Persephone gets taken against her will by Hades. It is similar to “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” due to Connie being forced to go with Arnold without a choice. The details on Arnold’s car is also a part of the plot. “ARNOLD FRIEND was written in tar-like black letters on the side (of the car), with a drawing of a round grinning face”(Oates, 3) Even his name is assisting in ‘befriending’ Connie. Since his name is Arnold Friend, Connie might get confused and think that he is already a friend of her, even if he is a stranger. The events that occur in the story have Arnold using
In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, there are multiple ways to interpret what it is conveying. Joyce Carol Oates managed to make a story where the genre can be seen as “psychological realism” and “realistic allegory”. In it, the main character, named Connie, is on a search for independence be hanging out at a restaurant. Through further analysis, it can be revealed that Connie and Arnold’s relationship mirrors that of the famous myth Persephone and Hades; it also has Stockholm Syndrome-like qualities that are emphasized through the setting, plot, and characterization. The setting has connections to Stockholm Syndrome, like when Arnold is introducing himself to Connie. …show more content…
The music also has some Stockholm Syndrome-like traits with it. “He lifted his friend's arm and showed her the little transistor radio the boy was holding, and now Connie began to hear the music. It was the same program that was playing inside the house.” (Oates, 3) This is Arnold’s first attempt of trying to make Connie more relaxed. By playing the same music Connie likes, it might create a subconscious bond to him without him having to say a word. The setting is only a small part of how Arnold uses stockholm syndrome against …show more content…
One part is how Arnold is able to force Connie to go with him “for a ride in his car”. “...And the “encouraging words” Arnold Friend speaks are hypnotic enough to lure her out the doors”(Quirk, 419) This is the effect the stockholm syndrome has on Connie. It makes her not think rationally, thus her following Arnold out to his car. She also could have been traumatized enough by the situation she was in that she completely forgot that Arnold was a stranger and not a friend. The part where Arnold actually kidnaps Connie has a “Persephone and Hades” related events. “We’ll go out to a nice field, out in the country here where it smells so nice and it’s sunny… I’ll have my arms tight around you so you won’t need to try to get away…”(Oates, 9)In “Persephone and Hades”, Persephone gets taken against her will by Hades. It is similar to “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” due to Connie being forced to go with Arnold without a choice. The details on Arnold’s car is also a part of the plot. “ARNOLD FRIEND was written in tar-like black letters on the side (of the car), with a drawing of a round grinning face”(Oates, 3) Even his name is assisting in ‘befriending’ Connie. Since his name is Arnold Friend, Connie might get confused and think that he is already a friend of her, even if he is a stranger. The events that occur in the story have Arnold using