Connie In Joyce Carol Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Have you ever had a nightmare that is so realistic it speeds up your heart rate and takes your very breath away? In Joyce Carol Oates’s 1966 “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, she tells a story of a teenager by the name of Connie. Connie has a fate of being kidnapped by a strange man that seems to know everything about her. Connie is a typical adolescent with a vivid imagination and a difficult, unstructured home. She is at a delicate time in her life of transitioning to find her “own” identity. Temptation is all around Connie and she allows herself to be consumed, somewhat obsessed with it. Connie’s history of unhealthy relationships, cravings for love, and over active imagination creates a nightmare so horrific that we can only
Connie is so use to the ridicule and criticism, that her natural defense mechanism allows her to ignore the hurtful comments. However, the negative comments sometimes become so overwhelming, that Connie wishes for the demise of her mother and herself. “Connie’s mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over.” (2/16) This relationship is clearly unhealthy with the woman that should be her first role model, her mother. It is believed that a daughter’s “first love” is her father, and that every child should have a strong male role model in their life. Contrary to belief, Connie’s father has limited to no influence on her or the household. He is not involved with them and has no interest to be. The story states
That is why Arnold’s knowledge is equivalent to things Connie would know. The whole interaction between Connie and Arnold is a premonition of what would happen if Connie gives into her sexual curiosity. The representation of “going for a ride never to return” is about her crossing the line of her losing her virginity. It’s not necessarily “death of her” but it is “death of her innocence”. That is something that she will never be able to get back. It’s just like how the interaction started with Arnold, “curious” and somewhat “amusing”, but the hard reality of the matter is it quickly turned “frightening”, “realistic”, and “overwhelming”. “She thought, I’m not going to see my mother again. She thought, I’m not going to sleep in my bed again.” (15/16) In this statement Connie is subconsciously thinking of the consequences of her actions if she “goes for a ride” with Arnold (gives into temptation). This is a reference to her parent’s disapproval and possible punishment, if they find out what she has