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.
2 thoughts on “James Terry Discussion 14”
James, I love your POV on nothing being as it seems. I felt like this story was almost like a metaphor for teenagers seeing things through rose-tinted glasses. Everything looks good from afar – but take the glasses off. Ironic, Arnold Friend was wearing some tinted glasses too.
I also agree with your POV on this being about the inevitable. Life is going to keep going, and sometimes there’s tough lessons learned as we grow up.
I liked reading your insight of this story.
James, thanks for broadening the discussion based on ideas expressed in the Korb article. I think your answer sheds some light on the idea that the story looks at sordid aspects of American culture. I’m glad you mention the flies. The story is full of fly references. I’m sure many unappealing images come to people’s minds when they think of flies.