Discussion 5 Jiyuan Wang

As the author of the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” poined out ,when questioned about the looming darkness around her works, it is dishonest to write stories thats ignores the cruel reality of our world. We live in a cruel and chaotic world. “Where Are you Going, Where Have You Been?” reflects on the cruel world we lives in. It is not suppose to be a heart warming fairtale. It is a meant to be painful and sombering, and alerting to parents who neglects their children. In the real world, we have people with malicious intend like Arnold Friend who prey on teenage girls. While in fairy tale, every girls meet prince like characters, and live happy every after. That is a huge contrast to the ending of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”,  where Connie, the protagonists, eventually fells for Arnold Friend, who we knows is based on a real life serial killer, and there is no possibility for “happy ever after” with him. In fairytales, protanganists are always rewarded for curiosity, trust, and braveness. In the real world, this could be the opposites. Connie’s curiosity led her to the restaurant, where she met Arnold Friend. Connie’s trust in the appearance of Arnold Friend gave him the opportunity to take advantage of her. Connie’s Braveness, which eventually enable her to step out of her house ,in search of a brand new land, led to her ultimate demise.