Week 13 Discussion

Hello prof Conway, In my opinion of the, story, “where are you going, where have you been” I feel that it’s more of a story of how overtime the girls generations are changing, which is feminist allegory. I think this for the same reason how many many think the woman’s should be this and that and how they belive woman, had no rights. But as we see in the story Arnold I like a guy who Is feminist. We can see he is like the type of person who thinks he can be with this and that girl, with any girl and that are younger than him. He is a psycho. But also we can interpret that, the way connie is, is also how the girls generation is changing. I say this because the way she is, Many girls over the recent years act like connie, the way they think they have to be in the best look and well being for them to find the best man or boy for them, which is not true, because the one who loves you, will care and love you in any way.

The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a story composed of a few major problems; lack of love from Connie’s mother, superficial and vainness, and too much trust. Connie only cared about her looks and what was deemed perfect, as the story described that she would look at peoples faces to make sure she was perfect. Her focus on the superficial things in life put her life in danger. Connie trusted Arnold and it was hard not to trust him, he was sweet and swept her off her feet and that was the biggest manipulation tactic he used to trick her and make her vulnerable enough to attack her.

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates’s work makes me feel uneasy. I do agree with Korb as it’s an inverted fairytale. Connie hated her family and acted differently around them. Because she did this, she had 2 different personalities she took on in different situations. There was one she favored more which was when she was away from her family. She specifically hated her mother and wanted her so badly to be gone because she didn’t fit her idealized version of herself that her friends knew. Arnold Friend represents a skewed version of all her desires. Someone infatuated with her gives her an escape into becoming her idealized self completely. In return for this, she had to give up her family, especially her mother. I think she comes to for a second when Arnold Friend tells her that her mother was dead when all she wanted to do was call her mother for help to protect her. The uncertainty of the ending leads me to believe the story is about the grooming and objectification of young girls. She felt like she needed to have a more mature adult nightlife but later we see her breakdown like a child, being naive and not being able to tell if Arnold and Ellie were trustworthy or even around her age. It’s a distorted version of a fairytale that the reader knows in a real-world situation will have very scary dangerous consequences, implied by the ominous ending.

Regarding the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, I understand why Rena Korb interprets it as an “inverted fairytale”. It highlights a teenage girl, Connie’s, naivety and vanity as she grows into a young woman, craving independence (her family-life doesn’t exactly help with that either). She soon became familiar with Arnold Friend and Ellie who had seemingly been stalking her and had learned things about her she never revealed. Unknown to Connie, Arnold is manipulating her, faking this folksy persona to a degree that you suspect he’d spent years perfecting. Personally, around this time, it’s getting hard for me to contain my emotions as I can understand the physical jolt she implies from her bubbling anxiety as she finally sees what the man in the backseat looks like. To relate back to the inverted fairytale angle, I would say the typical prince charming is alluring and persistent (somehow not seen as creepy) as where Arnold Friend can be interpreted as the embodiment of evil as the implication at the end of the story is spoken for.

This week’s reading “Where are you going? Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates brought up a lot of mixed emotions. For starters, the author’s writing style which was compared to Fyodor Dostoevsky as Rena Korb pointed out in her overview, is very intriguing with its elements of gothic horror and chilling effect that sucks you right in. The story unfolded very naturally and I couldn’t foresee such a plot development quite frankly. One of the things that stroke me is the contrast of how the author emphasized the superficiality of the characters and their everyday life until Arnold Friend appeared in Connie’s driveway. From that point on the intensity and grotesque of the terror and break down Connie goes through escalates quickly. One of the things that was very clear from the narrative is a complete lack of moral guidance from Connie’s family. It’s pretty normal for a teenage girl being self absorbed and pay so much attention to one’s looks as she is growing into a young woman and learning. On the other side her mother and Connie’s older sister seem to be on the same emotional level as her despite their age and instead of worrying herself with being a supportive parent her mother argues with Connie “over something of little value to either of them”. “Inverted fairy tale” is a twisted but accurate take on interpretation of this complex story where as per Korb “Connie’s adolescent dream turned into a nightmare”.

The short story “where are you going, where have you been?” is very dark and sad. To my understanding this reading is life from Connies perspective and explaining the relationship between her and her mother which wasn’t a healthy one at all. Connie expressed herself through her clothing being as she felt like she was hated at home her mom, and her father wasn’t  always there when he was around so she had no support. Connies choice of clothing.seems to have caused her to end up in this horrible situation since she had a stalker that she did not know about. her stalker is a grown man preying on a little girl. I really wish the story didn’t end the way it did i was hoping she would have gotten away from them. but unfortunately they stabbed her and I know she most likely dies since they didn’t plan on taking her to a hospital.

The story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is a good reflection of the evil that is present in society with Connie being an average teenager and ignorant to the evil of the world around her. I like the comparison that Rena Korb made in her critical review comparing Arnold Friend to the devil as well as mentioning the vampire aspect of him not entering the house. Both have strong connotations to darkness and evil. Connie starts out as this shallow person who only cared about her looks which is evident throughout the story with her mentioning how she looks and being conscious of her beauty. She uses her beauty to her advantage by frequenting places where older guys hang out probably as a way to cope with the neglect of her parents who don’t sound like they are really there for her. She is able to form two different personalities one for her home life and the other for when she is outside. When she goes to Arnold, she is giving into sin as he represents the evil and darker parts of life.

As with much of Oates’s fiction, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” uses the technique of psychological realism, funneling the narrative through Connie’s consciousness, along with elements of gothic horror, to chilling effect. The story has been subject to differing interpretations by various critics. It has been seen as an inverted fairy tale in which Connie is joined not with Prince Charming but with the Prince of Darkness.  These readers have pointed out similarities between Arnold Friend and the devil: his disguise, his supernatural knowledge of the whereabouts of Connie’s family, his ability to lure Connie to him against her will, even his very name, which is by no coincidence close to ”Arch Fiend.” Others see it as a tale of initiation into evil, with the end depicting Connie’s acceptance of the depraved American culture. Here Connie inhabits a world of moral impoverishment in which only the false and tawdry are revered. The loss of Connie to Arnold Friend is thus not only the story of one girl’s fatal misperception of appearances but also a representation of a loss of innocence.  There are still others who read the story as a feminist allegory which suggests that young women of today, like the generations that have come before them, are headed into sexual bondage.  In addition to reading ”Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” for its critical interpretation, it can also be enjoyed as a finely crafted story. Oates’s control over her narrative is clearly evident as she introduces a protagonist who is familiar enough to earn the reader’s empathy, yet still able to surprise.

Rena Korbs’ article states that “The loss of Connie to Arnold Friend is thus not only the story of one girl’s fatal misperception of appearances but also a representation of a loss of innocence.” I could not agree more. Our protagonist (Connie) is described as a vein 15-year-old. Through the story, we learn that she is a little boy crazy as well (Frequenting the drive-thru of the older kids eagerly leaving her friend to spend time with a boy she felt attracted to, even spending time with him in his car in an alley {possibly engaging in promiscuous activity} spending her summer thinking/dreaming about the boys she met). We also learn that she displays two separate personalities depending on where she is. At home, she shies away to avoid her mother’s criticism. When out in the world her demeanor is one that garners attention, even her style of dress differs (“She wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home.”). She is teetering on the cusp of maturity, hiding behind the guise of innocence at home. To me, Arnold Friends arrival marks the collision of the two worlds she attempts to keep separate. Arnolds’ request for her to come outside can be seen as a metaphorical representation of temptation (mature desires), beckoning her to leave behind her innocence (represented by her home and the personality she shows her family) to embrace her “womanhood” (the personality she exhibits to the world). Arnold speaks in a way that is supposed to sound comforting but is threatening. This can be viewed as a warning to Connie about the falsehoods that exist in the world she’ll embrace if she chooses to go with Arnold aka the embodiment of Maturity/loss of […]

In the text “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, I really thought that it was interesting because I thought of it as her parents at home doesn’t see Connie’s real self just the part that Connie puts for them to see. If as a child growing up, your parents are constantly comparing you with someone else, especially a sibling, sure to them it could be a motivation but to any child in the long run is bad for mental health. Before COVID-19 in China, there were always stories on the news about children going suicidal because of too much pressure from parents. Which I connected with Connie having home behavior and outdoor behavior this could be like a mental coping system for her. From my understanding of the text Arnold is bringing out the outdoor part of her. Thus that part at the end that Connie seems to be unable to control her self.

This weeks read “Where are you going, Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was chilling and uncomfortable. My own understanding of the story was that Connie was your average pretty high school girl who had a rough home life being scrutinized by her mother, compared too much to her sister and ignored too much by her father. All of this leads to Connie living her life knowing her beauty is something that can get her the attention she is missing at home. That beauty only gets her so far when Arnold comes into the story and completely strips that attitude away from her. As Korb says in her analysis, Arnold gets past Connie’s “at home” persona, he is able to psychologically capture her. The story was so creepy to me because Arnold knows exactly what he is doing to the young girl. It made me wonder how many other innocent girls he must have done this to. The stalking, the showing up unannounced and the way he speaks to her to rattle her out of her “I’m above you” persona is truly demented.

First, I would like to say that the story “Where Are You Going, Where have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates has my pressure through the roof. This was a very chilling story. Arnold Friend used Connie’s insecurities to get to her. He knew everything about her, and one of the things he knew was the lack of attention she received because of her beautiful sister Joan. He was able to pretend to be a teenager, and Connie didn’t pay attention to the truth, until things started getting really creepy. Rena Korb article gives different interpretations of the story, in which I can agree with certain perspectives, such as Connie being joined with the “Prince of Darkness”. Arnold used his charming ways for Connie to have some sort of infatuation with him, and just like that, he turned into an older creep that she tried to get away from, but it was too late. One’s perspective also stated that Arnold was the devil. Which I can also say is my perspective on the story as well. Arnold has telepathic vision, in which he can see what Connie family is doing. He also was able to take control of Connie’s mind body and soul. She doesn’t realize where she is, he was able to continuously stab her without stepping foot into the house, and at the end she willingly went outside to him into a green field, assuming that’s where the dead go.

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, the beginning makes me think that Connie is at the edge of adulthood. Just like any teenager, she sneaks out, wants to meet boys, and compulsively checks her reflection in the mirror. I’m pointing out Connie’s obsession with her reflection because of its emphasis on her beauty which gives her a sense of power. Having a bad relationship with her mother and being criticized for being obsessed with her appearance, lying where she goes, and being very interested in boys at fifteen years old is showing Connie being vulnerable and the mother wanting to protect her. To me, Rena Korb’s interpretation of “feminist allegory” best describes this story because Connie identifies herself heavily through music and films of romance. Compulsively checking her reflection in the mirror is only a reflection of how people see her, Connie knew she was pretty and it was everything to her. Arnold staring at her and his sunglasses is a reflection of Connie being vulnerable and not being able to stand up to him. He controls who she is and she obeys him sadly in the end, walking down the path to the car and images her not coming back. 

My understanding of the story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is very basic. I see a story of a normal American girl and her normal everyday life until she is caught in the sights of someone. The story which seemed innocent at first had become a tale of horror the moment a car that Connie didn’t know showed up on her driveway. Rena Korb saying that it can be seen as an inverse fairy tale was something I didn’t even think about but it made my understanding a bit better. The story which starts off innocently about a superficial girl and her day to day life as she tries to find love is very fairy tale like. However, Arnold, while he might have seemed like a charming prince at first on the surface, was everything but a prince. It reminds me of the original stories of fairy tales like Snow white or Cinderella where the original stories were much darker. In that sense this story could be seen not as an inverse fairy tale but more alike with the original stories.

I think this story is a story about a girl who has to deal with the traditionalist and Christian worldview that her parents and those around her have while trying to navigate talking to a boy and growing up while those around her are continuously judgemental and doesn’t seem like they want the best for her. I also agree that it is kind of like a fairytale in a way kind of similar to Romeo And Juliet where her parents don’t really want her to be talking to boys or doing what she is doing but because as the boy states “your father is at the barbecue” but she is still hesitant about going for a ride with him and seeing where things will go because she is scared what her father would say or do if she saw the two of them. Eventually when Arnold starts getting aggressive and insults Connie’s sister she threatens to call the police and eventually leaves. I think this story is a fairytale that ends up not being able to work out because of the patriarchal and religious beliefs that are going on around her which she doesn’t seem to want to follow which in the end leads to her leaving and not trying to work it out with the boy because of the worries she has of how she will be perceived.

The story reads to me as a psychological coming-of-age story with Christianity under tones. The story begins with Connie just living her life like any other teenager. Going out to the mall with her friends, meeting boys, etc. The story seems like the kind where we watch her journey that may include love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Except Connie is extremely vain and only values outward appearance. Immediately, my impression of Connie is that despite that she is simply an “innocent lamb” she is committing a sin in her case is vanity while Arnold Friend could be seen as “The Devil.” Based on his demeanor and approach to Connie. He talks sweetly to her and somehow knows her name despite Connie never meeting this man. He appears unexpectedly at her house and drives a conspicous vehicle along with a friend. Two strange men who want Connie to come with them. They never expressed what their intentions were, yet Connie feared for her life. Ultimately, giving in to the threats and the harassing, Connie gives in and is lured outside, never to be seen again. This is also referenced in Paragraph 10 of Korb’s Essay: “Connie, of course, does not recognize the story’s demonic elements when the reader does. These references quickly add up: her utterances of “hell” and “Christ” when Arnold shows up; his supernatural awareness of the details of Connie’s life, particularly his ability to “see” the family barbecue; his vampiric inability to enter Connie’s house” 

At the beginning of the story, it developed as typical teenage experiences.  She liked boys and wanted their attention. I know a ton of ways how that can lead to something bad at the same time I knew it wasn’t uncommon for developing girls.  I didn’t feel as though that contributed as much as someone might think, to the events that took place at her home.  It doesn’t take a genius to realize a child acting like a woman doesn’t make her a woman. A predator will want to pursue her either way.  In this case, Arnold Friend, was the predator. A charming predator. It almost seemed as though he could’ve been a professional predator with how he knew Connie’s parents weren’t home and weren’t coming back during the time of his arrival. His confidence showed me he’s done it before.  When he began to describe what the family was doing in the moment, it came across more like a psychic ability. Even my daughter mentioned how his name was similar to Arch-fiend, which is some sort of demon lord in their Yu-Gi-Oh game, however I can’t imagine assuming that this man had powers. But for a child? Im sure manipulation in that fashion is quite simple. He made her believe he knew so much that she wouldn’t be able to outsmart him.  He was able to send her into an entire panic of fear simply by talking to her.  He maintained her curiosity with childish conversation about the design to his car and joking around about his friend.  Unless the story tells of the car floating away in midair or creating a portal to her parents to show what they’re doing, I would never have believed it was supernatural.  She was a young simple girl and with that premise […]

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was definitely not what I was expected to read. I thought this story is going to be light and funny by the begging of it. A story about family matters, or a love story maybe. Surprisingly I discovered that this story is very dark, and although in American stories you expect a happy ending, this one was a scary and sad one (since we anticipate what’s going to happen to Connie after she went with Arnold). Reading the critical overview of the story written by Rena Korb, the interpretation that touched me the most was “feminist allegory”. I find it true and very sad. The way Korb describes it in the article was very powerful: “When Connie, the innocent female, walks out of the house to meet what may be her demise, she also represents the spiritual death of women at the moment they give up their independence to the desire of the sexually threatening male”. Although there is much more awareness of it nowadays, there are still a lot of young girls and grown women who try to satisfy men’s desires, even if it’s not what they want. When men use their power over women in sexual situations to get what they want, many females feel weak and as if they need to obey. We see women get raped on the news all the time, and people blame them for being too sexual and highly maintained. As Connie in this story. She does put a lot of attention to physical appearance, but that is what she cares about as a young girl, and shouldn’t get punished for it.

This story is about young love. Connie explains throughout the story that she is constantly being compared to her older sister, June, by her mother and her mother’s sisters. They always talk very highly of June and get very excited when they hear her name and that June does a lot more for the family than Connie. June saved money and helped to do chores around the house, which they appreciated so much that they looked at Connie as an outsider in the family and always belittled her. When Arnold Friend came in front of her home, she immediately pushed him away and was rude to him. She explained that she had other things to do instead of going out for a ride with him because he did not want him to know that she was interested in him, as it would his ego much higher. He constantly called her sweet and caring names, had asked a lot of their mutual friends about Connie and explained that he wanted to be with her. Towards the end, she realizes that she wants to be with the boy as well, as it makes her heart pound and she feels that she can finally have something to herself. She says this because Arnold saw Connie for who she was and accepted her. She liked that she wasn’t compared to anyone else, especially her older sister. She didn’t accept it at first because she thought that what he was said was fake and silly and she did not want to be hurt. She was not close with her family and did not grow up with showing love and affection. She did not have a strong relationship with her father, and she wished that her mother had died. She was scared and pushed Arnold Friend […]

In my opinion, I agree with the perspective that it is an inverted fairytale. In a stereotypical fairytale, there is usually some kind of princess who needs to be saved by some kind of prince, knight, or mysterious man. Then he takes her away, they fall in love, they ride off into the sunset, and live happily ever after.  The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” has similar components with a very different outcomes. This story’s princess, Connie, while feels isolated from her family and misunderstood, she does not want to be with them. However, she does not want to be taken from them. Especially not by Arnold Friend. In this case, Arnold Friend is the “savior: He is the mysterious dark fiure that is going to take Connie away. Except in this story, they aren’t in love and he is taking her by force. And they don’t end up happily ever after.

The short story “where are you going, where have you been”?  was dedicated to Bob Dylan because the Author was inspired after listening to his song “Its all over now baby blue”. Connie did not feel appreciated at home because her mother always criticized her and always comparing her to her sister June, so she uses her looks and action to get attention from boys. Connie’s relationship with her mother and sister were unfortunate, the mother always make a references to June because she were more responsible. Her father seems like he’s very distant at home and that maybe is also a problem in her eyes. This was very sad to read!