Where are you going Where Haven't you been?

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Often what a person sees something as is the antithesis of what it actually is. People craft unrealistic, almost fantastical impressions of the reality around them; this idea is played with heavily in Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” The overarching theme of this story is the conflict of fantasy versus reality. The main character, Connie, attempts to craft an alluring and sexual persona to attract attention from young men her age, yet fails to comprehend the reality of sexuality and relationships. Connie lives in a fantasy, but when the antagonist, Arnold Friend, appears and corners her, she is thrown into a scary reality. Symbols present in the story, such as Arnold’s car, are a significant factor in defining the theme. Oates use of symbols and the historical and social context of the story reveal the fantasy verses reality conflict that simmers just below the surface of the story. In the end, Connie is forced to leave her comfortable fantasy to a horrific reality.
In the early stages of her story, Connie is shown creating a false persona. She uses her hairstyle, general behavior and clothing to imitate more mature women and make herself seem sexually experienced. This achieves the goal of getting attention from boys, but she confuses her desire for attention with actual sexual interest. She experiments with Eddie, but even after heading into the alley, she comes out afterwards and goes home to the safety and comfort of her family. Connie is afraid of actually becoming an adult, and as such, she is always running home to the safety of childhood.
Arnold’s car is a garish, out-of-place combination of outdated idioms and obnoxious color. It is the initial hint of Arnold’s less than f...

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...ng scene with horrific implications and a choice no one should have to make. Oates’ usage of symbols and the historical setting and social cues of the time wherein the story takes place are significant clues to discovering the thematic message Oates may have been attempting to confer, that being the shocking disparities between personal fantasies and the shared reality of humankind. Connie’s attention-grabbing false persona ultimately leads her to an impossible situation, given by a man who is at the least a complete psychopath. “Where are you going, where have you been” is a story that causes one to question how accurate one’s worldview is, and perhaps that is the point; to make one ask just how realistic a person’s perception of the world is.

Works Cited

The Holy Bible Containing the Old Testament and the New. Cambridge: Printed by John Field ..., 1668. Print.

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Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” clearly illustrates the loss of innocence adolescents experience as they seek maturity, represented by Connie's dangerous encounter with Arnold Friend. Connie symbolizes the many teens that seek independence from their family in pursuit of maturity. Connie’s great desire to grow up is apparent from the beginning of the story, as she experiments with her sexuality. However, it is clear that Connie is not interested in pursuing a relationship, but relishes the maturity she feels after being with the opposite sex. After following a boy to his car, she was “gleaming with a joy that had nothing to do with Eddie or even this place” (2). This suggests that Connie's exploits
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Where are you going Where Haven't you been?

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