Short Story 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been'

In the short story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates, the plot revolves around a young narcissist named Connie. Connie is a 15 year old normal teenage girl relatively speaking. She has no interest in responsibility and often dreams of the Disney-like life of a beautiful girl being met by an extraordinary man. Connie’s desire to be rebellious, her desire to be better than others, and her desire to be noticed are the focus of this story. Despite the similarity in these, there are very key differences that reflect the immaturity and indecisiveness of young Connie. Finally, Connie’s final ultimatum, in disguise of a scary stalker scenario, reflect which desire wins out. Connie has a god complex due purely from her …show more content…
Arnold Friend is speculated by many to be the negative embodiment of her selfish beliefs adorned by none other than the devil himself (Christle n.pag.). His name is, after all “Arnold Friend”, a name crossed in so many articles as “Arch Fiend”. Arnold is ethereal in all elements. Arnold appeals to her with such puzzle piece coordination, there is no question his character is tailor specifically for her. Arnold appeals to her desire to be taken away by an amazing man when his first appearance is a definitely desirable visage. Black jeans, tall enough to stand over her without intimidating her, with rippling muscles. Connie draws the assumption he works in a job that takes lifting. Arnold is first seen listening to her favorite channel on the radio, where he makes sure to compliment her favorite radio announcer. Despite how he comes onto her far too fast and hard, and scares Connie away, Arnold does get under her skin successfully until he presses his luck too far. Arnold has studied Connie, and all influences in her life. He knows she dislikes her parents, so when she threatens to call them back Arnold reassures her they do not care and are drunk currently. Arnold even arouses her sexual curiosities by wearing shades and not permitting his gaze to be directly be traced to where he stares on her, but his angle does insinuate to her he is erotically gazing. Arnold 's disguise as a normal man does begin to fall apart as she questions what she believes and desires until his visage is all but a faulty mask as she has begun to panic. His handsome 18 year old image is mere make-up and does not cover his neck, his legs are twisting into bizarre angles at the feet, like the devil 's cloven hooves (Urbanski n.pag.), and the most present indicator he is not of this world is his calm coercive voice to her. Weather he is Satan, or merely temptation incarnate is not clear, but those are good