Carol Oates 'Short Story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” can be considered a mixture between modern fairy-tale and traditional fairy-tale. Its theme, tone and tragic ending can be compared to the classical fairy-tales of history while its details of a contemporary life are relevant in modern day fairy-tales. Many traditional fairy-tales are composed of dark, threatening themes that contain some sort of moral lesson and/or depict the ancient struggle between good and evil; such elements are evident in Hans Christian Andersen’s original tale of The Little Mermaid as well as in the tale of The Pied Piper of Hamelin in which gave inspiration to Joyce Oates short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. Modern fairy-tales

As Connie and her friend enter the infamous drive-in their faces are “pleased and expectant as if they were entering a sacred building that loomed up out of the night to give them what haven and blessing they yearned for” (Oates 552). It seems as if they are both entering an enchanted world full of their desires. And this magical world unsurprisingly is where all the older kinds hung out and the place Connie daydreamed of when she was confined at home. This magical place is also where we first get a glance at the most magical character of the story, Arnold Friend, the villain that seduces Connie. Connie first describes him as “… a boy with shaggy black hair, in a convertible jalopy painted gold” (Oates 553). We later find out that this mysterious character is actually an older man around the age of 30 who dresses like all the other adolescent boys and who seems to be wearing makeup, in which Connie refers to “a mask”. “She saw how thick the lashes were, thick and black as if painted with a black tarlike material” (Oates

No matter what type of fairytale Joyce Oates is referring to, they are all very important and add depth and interest to the story. They support the points Joyce Carol Oates is making and they create a sense of originality in her story. By using such allusions, Joyce Carol Oates is sharing with the reader a different view and meaning to the fairytales. She is opening up the minds of readers while still presenting something within her story that they can relate to and associate with. The allusions, the villain, the distinct protagonist, the magic and the moral lesson are all present in her story, therefore “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? can be considered a modern fairytale with a not so “happily ever