Summary Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates is a story about a teenage girl in the 1960's, named Connie, and her struggle to escape reality while simultaneously resisting authority and playing the role of beauty queen. Connie wants nothing less than to be like her mother or sister. She thinks that because she is prettier than them that she is above them. Connie's fascination with her beauty and her inability to distinguish reality from fantasy ultimately lead to her own downfall in the end. Connie, a victim of horrifying circumstance will be forever changed by her interactions with the antagonist of the story, Arnold Friend. Connie resists falling into the role of what a daughter, sister, and young girl should be. Instead, …show more content…
Connie acts as a typical daughter should and suppresses her sexuality in front of her family. As the narrator says, “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one …show more content…
There is a piece of artwork from the 1400's, "Danse Macabre De Berne" by Niklaus-Manuel, that perfectly portrays Connie's willingness to succumb to Arnold. Depicted in the picture is a skeleton caressing a young woman. The woman appears to be admiring herself in front of a mirror as the skeleton embraces her in his arms. Both the maiden's and Connie's lives were based around the idea of looking beautiful and appearing desirable, but this narcissism is what led to their end. The maiden in this artwork is terrified, much like Connie, but she does not resist "Death." Connie doesn't want to go with Arnold Friend, but she eventually gives in anyway and walks right into his arms. Similar to the maiden's inability to resist the inevitability of her death. Connie wanted so badly to escape reality and Arnold Friend helps her do just that, though probably not in the way she