Raynise Adams
Dr. Kathryn Crowther
English 1102
9 September 2014
A Critique of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been as an Archetypal Tale
As children, people are told tales that are meant to entertain and educate. These tales introduce children to the complexities of human behavior when trying to make the right decision. Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is an archetypal tale about fifteen year old Connie who while in this liminal phase of life makes the wrong decision and chooses to go off into thevast world with Arnold Friend. While the ending and the moral of the short story are obscure, this tale has many archetypal characteristics that classify it as an Aesop Fable or Grimm Fairytale. The archetypal elements, …show more content…
Upon meeting Connie the problem that she faces is unclear. However, within a few paragraphs it is evident that Connie constantly steps out of a child’s place by deviously lying about where is going and who she spending her time with. Connie is stuck in adolescence, the liminal phase of life. She is repeatedly seen trying to associate with those older than her, willing to leave her friends behind “Sometimes they did go shopping or to movie, but sometimes they went across the highway… to a drive-in restaurant where older kids hung out” (Oates 6). During one of these instances is when Connie and Arnold, the villain, initially meet at the diner, the local watering hole. If Connie had only listened to her mother and was not so eager to grow up she would have never met Arnold. Whilst most fables provide a clear moral to their tales; “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” lacks a concrete conclusion. Despite the fact that the ending of the story leaves room open for interpretation as to what happens to Connie the moral of the story is clear, if you are not true yourself and are repetitiously disobedient you will not receive your happily ever after. Due to her need to break out of the liminal stage in life of not being a girl but not yet a women, Connie eventually finds herself in a tragic situation with Arnold
Dr. Kathryn Crowther
English 1102
9 September 2014
A Critique of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been as an Archetypal Tale
As children, people are told tales that are meant to entertain and educate. These tales introduce children to the complexities of human behavior when trying to make the right decision. Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is an archetypal tale about fifteen year old Connie who while in this liminal phase of life makes the wrong decision and chooses to go off into thevast world with Arnold Friend. While the ending and the moral of the short story are obscure, this tale has many archetypal characteristics that classify it as an Aesop Fable or Grimm Fairytale. The archetypal elements, …show more content…
Upon meeting Connie the problem that she faces is unclear. However, within a few paragraphs it is evident that Connie constantly steps out of a child’s place by deviously lying about where is going and who she spending her time with. Connie is stuck in adolescence, the liminal phase of life. She is repeatedly seen trying to associate with those older than her, willing to leave her friends behind “Sometimes they did go shopping or to movie, but sometimes they went across the highway… to a drive-in restaurant where older kids hung out” (Oates 6). During one of these instances is when Connie and Arnold, the villain, initially meet at the diner, the local watering hole. If Connie had only listened to her mother and was not so eager to grow up she would have never met Arnold. Whilst most fables provide a clear moral to their tales; “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” lacks a concrete conclusion. Despite the fact that the ending of the story leaves room open for interpretation as to what happens to Connie the moral of the story is clear, if you are not true yourself and are repetitiously disobedient you will not receive your happily ever after. Due to her need to break out of the liminal stage in life of not being a girl but not yet a women, Connie eventually finds herself in a tragic situation with Arnold