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

The story “Where are you going, where have you been?”, written by Joyce Carol Oates, is a psychological thriller. It contains many elements throughout the story that the reader can only attempt to understand. This story can affect one on many different levels. It can cause one to be lost in thought, stuck on the complexity of the 15-year-old main character. It can forever creep one out by the unforgettable traits of the main antagonist. All the while employing many hidden meanings into the story that people to this day still have not broken the code to. The interpretations of it are endless, leaving one thinking of what the true meaning is that the author wanted to portray. By the end of the story, the psychological depth it enters makes it nearly impossible to forget something of this nature.
First published in 1966, the story became an instant classic. It has been shared and included in literature since its creation, even
There are many representation and theories as to what, or whom, Arnold is supposed to represent. One of the most interesting theories is that Arnold Friend is a representation of evil, or the devil himself. A wistful talker, who can convince someone to act without moving a muscle. He possesses temptation, luring Connie into something she simply never imagined could happen. Arnold’s car had the numbers 33, 19, and 17 written on it. Those numbers are attributed to a bible verse, further speculating the belief. Arnold walks with a wobble, mainly because he seems to wear a boot size too big, stuffed with some sort of material to make him appear taller. This theory states that the boots are to possibly cover up a set of hooves, which the devil is depicted to have instead of feet. His supernatural ability to tell the whereabouts of her family also furthers the devil like assumptions. Arnolds unnatural facial features and strange physical appearance give off a vibe that he is wearing a