Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Summary

Short Story Analysis Jeffery Sumber, a clinical psychotherapist, believes a dream reveals a person’s “deepest desires and deepest wounds.” (Tartakovsky) In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Connie is a young vulnerable fifteen year old girl; who longs for love, affection, and attention from the male populace. Her adolescent mind is consumed with thoughts of boys and being in love, as well as obsessing over her appearance and being accepted by others. One afternoon as she lay “languidly” on her bed listening to music, “bathed in a glow of slow-pulsed joy” as her chest gently rises and falls with each breath, one could assume she is falling asleep. (Oates) While asleep she has a bizarre dream; in her dream Connie’s subconscious desire to be loved and cherished by her absent father is revealed. …show more content…
She then realizes it is not her father, an unfamiliar gold painted car sat in the drive. Two strange men were in the car; Arnold Friend and his pal Ellie who was busy listening to his radio, were there to take Connie for a ride. Arnold Friend, the driver, symbolizes a position of authority: portrays her father in her dream. Ellie represents the general presence of other boys, which in comparison is insignificant to her desire for a relationship with her father. For example, in Connie’s dream Ellie is isolated in the car listening to his radio; he is secondary. The radio symbolizes a detached interaction. Another example is shown when Arnold Friend suggests Ellie can sit in the back seat; the back seat exemplifies insignificance. Arnold Friend showing up in a gold colored car is meaningful because gold signifies value. Subconsciously, this indicates Connie’s desire for a ‘valuable’ relationship with her