“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a thrilling and captivating story that can leave the reader with a few different impressions simultaneously. When I read this, I initially thought of it as a coming of age story with a terrifying twist. Ultimately, I look at it as a representation of the defeat of women by men because of gender inequality. I enjoyed reading the details of all the interpretations in the article by Rena Korb. I see how they can all be applied to the story. I did not consider the “inverted fairytale” interpretation with Arnold assuming the role as the devil. It is apparent by the way he psychically knew this information about Connie and her family, and his name being so similar to “archfiend.” I can see how it can also be perceived as an “initiation into an evil, depraved American culture.” However, the writing is strongly gender specific with Connie’s obsession of keeping up with a beauty and behavioral standard society has engrained in her; and the type of predatory evil she faces. I think this story is an initiation into evil for specifically a female. I do side most with the “feminist allegory” interpretation, but all of these themes blend together.
Daily Archives: April 27, 2023
In the interpretation of the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Rena Korb, she interpreted that the story is an, enjoyed as a finely crafted story. She believes the main character Connie is having troubles understanding the world around her and meeting the not so good man named, Arnold Friend. She depicts that 15 year old Connie will be lured into a car with a not so good man that could potentially either rape her or kill her. But my interpretation of this story is about the real world that goes on around us today involving women. At the young age of 15, we all now the saying of not speaking to strangers but when someone is constantly begging someone to go on a ride with them and could potentially go on a dangerous ride with them is something you see today. Men try their hardest to take advantage of women everyday. Not saying every man intentions are to harm someone but when a man at the drive thru says, “Gonna get you babe” then shows up at her house is pretty creepy. At her young age it’s cool to be hanging around either girl or boys that are older to portray a cool image of herself for the friends around her but also isn’t smart as well. The story is warning young girls of signs like these to help them say no and seek help instead of trying to do things on their own. Young people make mistakes in life but some mistake can’t be taken back once done.
Reading this piece, I initially thought of it as a coming of age story. And after reading Korb’s article on the writing, and what was defined as a feminist allegory, where women are sexualized and seen as an object of pleasure, I still think in some way, it is a “coming of age” story, albeit the grim and assumed conclusion. It is mentioned in Korb’s article that although Connie is shallow, she becomes likeable. Although she is shallow, I never disliked Connie. I saw Connie as a typical, popular teenager. What teenage girl would not be obsessed with her looks and hanging out and disliking her mother and do-gooder sister? This is what they do – who they are….typically. I saw this as a coming of age story because although the story took a sharp turn, and again, the assumed grim conclusion, Connie is met with realizing the world is actually not all roses and daisies. Connie being the typical teen-aged girl consumed with her looks and social life sadly has to make some really hard and adult decisions in the moment. As we all have aged, there is a moment in our lives where we realize life is actually full of tough decisions that need to be made, and our parents are not going to always be there to tell us what to do, or protect us.
In the story “Where have you been, where are you going” I believe this story was about the inevitable. Connie starts out as this young care-free teenage girl and ends up stoic and accepting of her fate. The twilight of the teenage years is the last time being a silly unaware child is acceptable in American society. In the article by Korb, he mentioned the feminist view of this story being about a woman giving into a male culture. I have a more universal take. This story in my view is the reality of life everyone must face. Whats so interesting about this story is that nothing is as it seems. Arthur Friend, is more likely a 30 year old man that attempts to pass himself off as a 18 year old. The diner she went to and described as “fly-infested” though she thought of it as a sacred building. Connie, as many teenagers do has a skewed view of the world. This skewed view does not help her fend off her impending possible demise. This story represents the realities of life that we all face after the end of our childhood, a death of childhood so to speak. We realize as adults that many thing we believed as children are not real, the fun places aren’t so fun anymore and the candy makes you sick. The paint begins of fade, and the shine of the world begins to dull, however just like Connie did, we accept it.
