Anayeli Maximino Discussion 6

Rene Korb discussed the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, as an “inverted fairy tale” because it’s not a fairytale we are used to reading. The story starts by introducing a 15-year-old girl named Connie living with her mom who lectures her, her older sister who she does not have a good relationship with, and her absent father. Connie starts liking Eddie, who took her out to dinner and could not stop thinking about him ever since. But then a man named Arnold whom she saw when she was on a date with Eddie, showed up outside her house and started making Connie unforgettable. Going back to what Korb said about the story, Connie’s “fairytale” story of her and Eddie changed to a horror story once Arnold made an interface. Eddie made Connie feel safe and happy. But Arnold made her scared, uncomfortable, and dangerous. Just like Korb said, Eddie is the “Prince Charming”, and Arnold is the “Prince of Darkness.” This story gives a message to young women falling in love because love can do many things for people. Some good people care about you and are respectful. But some people are dangerous and sometimes hard to get rid of, which leaves trauma and loss of trust.