Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Short Story Analysis
Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? (WAYG, WHYB)” shows readers that romantic and superficial ideas can lead to tragic consequences. In the short story, Oates uses the plot and symbolism to demonstrate the story’s perspective on fantasy love.
WAYG, WHYB is written in 1966 by Oates. In a time where women are beginning to explore their mind and the world. As we read this now in 2017 and the time has changed, many people can interpret this story many ways. What is Arnold Friend or Connie trying to represent? What is Oates trying to tell her audience? Most do interpret it as a girl being taken away from home by a monster. The ground situation of this short story is about a young and attractive 15-year-old girl seeking …show more content…
Arnold Friend is introduced to the audience to show us that Connie will do anything to grow up. Although there are many interpretations of Arnold, the most common is relating him to the devil. “… he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig and he was grinning at her” (457) Oates may have put this in here to compare him to the devil by symbolizing his wig as a form of hiding his horns. Another symbol to Arnold is his car. His car has his name “written in tarlike black letters” (457) and also the numbers “33, 19, 17” (458) on Arnolds car may be interpreted as a versus from the Old Testament saying, “And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, “Whither goest thou? And from whence comest thou?”. This versus from the bible may sound a little like what Oates wrote about, but it can be interpreted as a scary line connecting Arnold Friend to the …show more content…
Another interpretation to the numbers above is referring to “John 19:17; “So they took Jesus, … the place of the skull.” Jesus was crucified at the age of 33”. Oates may have also meant the numbers to mean something more like this versus of the bible. There are many ways to interpret three simple numbers. We as the audience can imagine her being taken away by this monster to her death or just simply away from girlhood. “That place where you come from ain’t there any more, and where you had in mind to go is cancelled out… cardboard box I can knock down anytime…” (465) Oates put this part in the short story to let the readers know that Connie is ready to be introduced to womanhood by force. Then Oates gives us the best climax of the story, “She put out her hand… watching this body… moving out into the sunlight where Arnold Friend waited” (466) in the end Connie slowly symbolized she has given into Arnold. Many people may think of Connie has transition from the little girl she was at home to a now woman, but others see it as her being taken away to protect her family and getting raped and eventually being
WAYG, WHYB is written in 1966 by Oates. In a time where women are beginning to explore their mind and the world. As we read this now in 2017 and the time has changed, many people can interpret this story many ways. What is Arnold Friend or Connie trying to represent? What is Oates trying to tell her audience? Most do interpret it as a girl being taken away from home by a monster. The ground situation of this short story is about a young and attractive 15-year-old girl seeking …show more content…
Arnold Friend is introduced to the audience to show us that Connie will do anything to grow up. Although there are many interpretations of Arnold, the most common is relating him to the devil. “… he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig and he was grinning at her” (457) Oates may have put this in here to compare him to the devil by symbolizing his wig as a form of hiding his horns. Another symbol to Arnold is his car. His car has his name “written in tarlike black letters” (457) and also the numbers “33, 19, 17” (458) on Arnolds car may be interpreted as a versus from the Old Testament saying, “And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, “Whither goest thou? And from whence comest thou?”. This versus from the bible may sound a little like what Oates wrote about, but it can be interpreted as a scary line connecting Arnold Friend to the …show more content…
Another interpretation to the numbers above is referring to “John 19:17; “So they took Jesus, … the place of the skull.” Jesus was crucified at the age of 33”. Oates may have also meant the numbers to mean something more like this versus of the bible. There are many ways to interpret three simple numbers. We as the audience can imagine her being taken away by this monster to her death or just simply away from girlhood. “That place where you come from ain’t there any more, and where you had in mind to go is cancelled out… cardboard box I can knock down anytime…” (465) Oates put this part in the short story to let the readers know that Connie is ready to be introduced to womanhood by force. Then Oates gives us the best climax of the story, “She put out her hand… watching this body… moving out into the sunlight where Arnold Friend waited” (466) in the end Connie slowly symbolized she has given into Arnold. Many people may think of Connie has transition from the little girl she was at home to a now woman, but others see it as her being taken away to protect her family and getting raped and eventually being