Week 14 Discussion

My understanding of the story is that immediately from the start it takes a sad turn and dives in deeper in deeper as you continue reading. Highlight the main protagonist a 15-year-old girl named Connie. Known to almost everyone including herself she was not your average girl; she was extremely beautiful. In fact, her own mother treated her poorly and was even jealous of her. Her father was no better, not even speaking to the family going to work, coming home to read the paper, and eat after that off to bed. Connie’s life and upbringing has a theme of neglect. Her parent not caring about the slightest of things she does, and it causes major problems. While her mother disliked Connie she loved her big sister June. She was constantly being compared to her and was seen as an outcast within her own family. Her still being a teenage girl has caused her to have impaired thinking as she’s trying to navigate life. A predatory man Arnold turns the story from a sad story to a dark and twisted one where one’s quest for recognition will attract unwanted attention from some very bad people.

In my understanding, the story can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of youth and childishness, the power dynamics between the sexes, and the temptations of evil. The interpretation of the “inverted fairy tale” is particularly thought-provoking. The story follows Connie, a young girl who becomes obsessed with her beauty and the attention she receives from men. She is drawn away from the safety of her home and into the clutches of the villain Arnold Freund, who represents the quintessential wolf in sheep’s clothing. This reversal of the classic fairy tale of a young girl encountering a dangerous wolf in the woods is powerful and disturbing, highlighting the dangers posed by too much trust and naivete. I think the story can also be read as a commentary on gender power dynamics. Arnold Freund uses his muscle power, personal charm, and manipulation to seize Connie, who appears vulnerable and powerless in his presence. Connie’s mother, on the other hand, is portrayed as weak and submissive, constantly deferring to her husband’s wishes. Thus, the story can be seen as a critique of a patriarchal society in which men have power over women, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The story is about a rebellious 15 year old girl named Connie, whose mother constantly berates her for obsessing over her appearance and not being more sensible like her older sister, June. Oates wants to emphasize the inequality of men and women, and at the same time she is bringing forth her feminist beliefs that should be known to society. Connie, one young woman out of a country of young women, must confront her own questions and anxieties as she transitions into adulthood. The story’s title points up the threshold on which Connie stands, looking back to where she has been (childhood) and where she is going (adulthood). She presents a different version of herself when she’s home and when she’s out with her friends for validation.   

The reading “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” By Joyce Oates follows a story about a 15 year old girl named Connie who is obsessed with her looks. While her family was away and she was home by herself, she gets approached by this charismatic/manipulative man named Arnold who was in a car in front of her house. Connie at first is interested in Arnold but soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. As the story goes on Arnold becomes more sinister and dark. Threatening Connie to go with him. The understanding I have for the story is the dangers and risks of trusting strangers. The story shows very well the vulnerability of young people who are easily manipulated and naive.Connie herself in the story is portrayed as naive and careless. The story ends with Connie going with Arnold leaving us the audience uncertain of what her fate is.

My interpretation of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was a story of dark, evil and power taking over innocence. In the article by Rena Korb, she states different interpretations of the story and I see her point in all of them. Early in the story, Oates made it clear that Connie was prettier than most and that she herself was aware of it as well. Connie was very much into appearances-which was what “allowed” the whole encounter between her and Arnold Friend in the first place (she liked his appearance). In the story their first encounter was also intriguing to her. “It was a boy with shaggy black hair, in a convertible jalopy painted gold. He stared at her and then his lips widened into a grin. Connie slit her eyes at him and turned away, but she couldn’t help glancing back and there he was, still watching her. He wagged a finger and laughed and said, ‘Gonna get you, baby,’….” This was Connie’s first time seeing Arnold Friend. While he was consistent on trying to get her to come outside of her house, Connie held her ground and did not actually step out-she knew well enough not to since she didn’t know him. Once Connie starts getting afraid, she starts feeling like if her heart, that is pounding so heavily, is no longer hers as well as her own body that she felt shaking. This is the dark and evil presence getting in her head and taking control. At the end of the story, she ends up getting out of the house and going with/towards him because he manipulates her by saying, “‘…Be nice to me, be sweet like you can because what else is there for a girl like you but […]

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was an interesting, but eye-opening read. I believe that this story focuses on how young girls can easily fall for the words of older men. I’m sure that Arnold must have been a 30 year old, trying to make a move on a young girl. One mistake Connie made was opening the door and continuing to entertain the conversation with Arnold. As a young adult, she should not have been speaking to a stranger. I feel that if she hadn’t opened the door at all, the situation could have been different. Also, Connie was very much into her looks, I’m sure she was a beautiful girl, so that may have ben a reason that she allowed Arnold to give her attention, because she wanted her beauty to be seen. In the article, Korbs suggests said many who read the story view it as a feminist allegory. The way I viewed the story, I believe that it is important for parents to communicate with their children as long as they are responsible for them, because Connie’s parents didn’t seem to care about where she was going or what she was doing. When parents start to neglect their kids, it can often put the kids in unpleasant situations.

My interpretation of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was that it is a story about the curse of being beautiful. In the beginning of the story, Connie is the black sheep of the family because of her beauty. For example, her mother constantly berates her by saying, “Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty?” (Coates paragraph 1). Connie is treated ugly because she’s pretty and this leads her to relish the attention that she gets at the hamburger place. Connie gets attention from one boy, Eddie, in particular and enjoys herself. This is when she has her first encounter with Arnold Friend and “He wagged a finger and laughed and said, “Gonna get you, baby,”” (Coates paragraph 7). This makes Connies feel uncomfortable, but she dismisses it and continues with her night.  In Korb’s critique of the story, she includes how some readers interpreted the story as a as a “feminist allegory which suggests that… the spiritual death of women at the moment they give up their independence to the desire of the sexually threatening male” (Korb paragraph 4). This goes along with my interpretation of how beauty is a curse in this story because Connie was only seen for her beauty; her mother treated her like Cinderella’s stepmother. and boys gawked at her. Most importantly, her beauty was a curse in the end when Arnold Friend seduced her into coming on a drive which readers can interpret led to her being raped. He was sexually threatening, and she was still pure not only in her beauty, but also as a virgin and this shows how in society, a woman’s beauty often times attracts unwanted attention and women are stripped of their purity.

My own understanding of this story is the dark, evil subliminal flow throughout the story along with the realism that is brought out by the life of Connie and how something as your family life and the way a parent cares for their child or treats their child, or harmless intent decisions a young girl makes can create an outcome of men behaving sadistically and disgustingly towards a girl as young as 15.Connie is a shallow girl who is uncared for by her parents and who is often compared to her sister, obsessed with her looks she is fully aware of how beautiful she is. Having parents who do not typically ask where you are going will lead a young girl to involve herself into dangerous, but “fun” things that young teenage girls typically should not involve themselves in. Being a girl that beautiful and easy to talk to, men will think this is a easy target. Unfortunately for Connie, this man was very demanding and was very serious and was relentless in the fact where he really wanted Connie and targeted her weak, shallow thinking mindset and targeted her physically and mentally. The article states, “Since Connie so values appearances, she holds others to these shallow standards and uses what she sees on the surface as her criteria by which to judge them. This superficial view of the world leads her to embrace the drive-in restaurant, where older kids hung out and where Arnold Friend marks her with his X. Then, because at first she liked the way he was dressed, she does not immediately urge Arnold Friend to leave her driveway, and she stays talking with him, thus allowing him the time to create a physical space of psychological terror from which she cannot escape. ” The men […]

The story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” examines how societal and personal pressures affect choices.  Connie is a teenage girl who lacks self-awareness and is infatuated with her appearance. She makes a snap judgment on Arnold, a man who shows up at her house while she is alone at home, based solely on his appearance, not realizing that he has malicious motives. Arnold uses his knowledge of Connie’s family, acquaintances, and secrets to influence her and control her. Connie is forced to face the effects of her limited worldview as she loses her sense of self and grows frightened and vulnerable. According to my view, the story has a real feel, with Arnold’s seeming omniscience about Connie’s life coming from his compulsive and stalker-like actions. His knowledge of her family’s movements and activities can be traced to him watching Connie’s residence and following her family before approaching her while she was alone, not to some magical factor. This unsettling story is far from a fairy tale; rather, it serves as a terrifying warning about the possible risks that can result from actual circumstances and interactions with predatory people. Also The book serves as a warning about the perils of naivete and superficiality and can be seen as a cautionary tale about the world we live in, which includes young women like Connie.

In my understanding of the story, Oates is exploring the dangers of adolescence and the loss of innocence. Connie is portrayed as a typical teenage girl, concerned with her appearance and her social life. She is rebellious and seeks attention from boys, but she is not prepared for the danger that awaits her. Arnold Friend represents the evil that exists in the world and preys on vulnerable individuals like Connie. He is a manipulative and predatory figure who uses his charm to lure Connie into his grasp. The story suggests that Connie’s innocence and naivety make her an easy target for someone like Arnold Friend. Furthermore, the story can be interpreted as a critique of the cultural values of the 1960s. The story is set in a time of social change and upheaval, and Connie’s actions can be seen as a reflection of the values of that time. Connie’s desire for attention and her willingness to take risks with boys reflects the cultural shift towards sexual liberation and experimentation.

In Rena Korb’s critical overview of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, she presents various interpretations of the story, including the idea of an inverted fairy tale, a tale of initiation, and a feminist allegory. However, my own understanding of the story focuses on the theme of power dynamics and the struggle for control. Arnold Friend represents the ultimate manifestation of power and control over Connie, a young girl who is trying to navigate her way through adolescence. He uses his charm, manipulation, and ultimately his threat of violence to try to take control of Connie’s life. Connie’s resistance to his advances can be seen as her struggle to retain her own autonomy and agency in a world that tries to strip it away from her. Furthermore, the story can also be seen as a commentary on the societal power dynamics between men and women, as well as the dangers of toxic masculinity. Arnold’s relentless pursuit of Connie can be seen as a reflection of the pervasive belief that men are entitled to women’s bodies and attention. The story also highlights the danger that comes with toxic masculinity, as Arnold’s actions ultimately lead to violence and potential harm for Connie. Overall, while Korb’s interpretations provide valuable insights into the story, my own understanding focuses on the theme of power dynamics and the struggle for control, as well as commentary on societal power dynamics and toxic masculinity.

Different interpretive perspectives are put forward in Rena Korb’s critical overview, providing a place to start in understanding the narrative. However, my interpretation of the story as a study of power relations, particularly those involving gender and sexuality, has shaped my understanding of it.  At the heart of the story Arnold Friend, a supposedly charismatic and alluring man who poses a serious threat to the story’s adolescent protagonist Connie, is the central figure. Friend is a multifaceted character whose identity is obscured, rather than just a straightforward predator. He blurs the lines between the masculine and the feminine by embodying both. The way that Friend appears, with his painted-on eyebrows and wig, questions conventional ideas of male strength and attractiveness. He plays on Connie’s anxieties and vulnerabilities while manipulating and intimidating her with his remarks. In this approach, the story could potentially be understood as a critique of the ways in which toxic masculinity and patriarchy are employed to oppress and control women. The men in Connie’s life, from her controlling mother to the scary Arnold Friend, consistently stand in the way of her attempts to claim her own identity and independence. Due to the objectification and sexualization woman experiences from both males and the general public, her sexuality in particular becomes a cause of vulnerability and shame. The story can also be seen as an examination of the dangers of youth and the maturation process. Connie experiences several difficulties as she develops from a naive and self-centered teenager to a more self-aware and compassionate young woman. She is compelled to face both the harsh facts of the world around her and the darker sides of her own ambitions and inclinations.  The story can also be seen as an examination of the dangers of youth and the maturation process. Connie […]

Scholar Rena Korb discusses numerous differing interpretations someone may have while reading the story. She expressed how people view it as a tale of initiation or having a feminist allegory or concept to it. My first reaction while reading this story can be best associated with American culture, or tale of initiation. I would necessary have seen this story in a bad or dark perspective, but the influence of American culture is there. The girl in the story is being groomed by an older man who conveys mental abuse on her. Therefore, I would have to agree with this criticism interpretation at first hand. Rena Korb states, “Oates has expressed her interest in the richness of pain and chaos. Certainly, these elements are apparent in Oates’s own writing, and many critics have commented on the bleak nature of her fiction and on the many unpleasant things that happen to her characters”. This quote illustrates how the author initially focuses on this dark themed writing which is rich in pain. The author has the characters go through real life emotion representing something someone may experience in reality.

Many readers have come up with their own interpretation of the story “Where Are You Going? Where have you been?” describing it as a “inverted fairy tale” or even “a tale of initiation into the evils of depraved American culture. To me it is simply a thriller/ horror about a young girl who is confronted by her stalker and lured into his trap and eventually assaulted in many ways. The Story does not go further than when Connie gives in to Arnold but the subtle threats the Arnorld throws out there in his encounter with Connie makes his intentions seem more than sinister. Even going back to when Connie spots the “boy” at the drive-in restaurant and he tells her “gonna get you baby” from a distance made me unsettled and nervous for what that may mean. In Korbs’ essay about the story, the writer explains that people may interpret Arnold as the devil with the way he had “Supernatural” awareness on Connie and her families whereabouts. For me, this story was a lot more realistic, the almost omniscient awareness Arnold seemed to have was just his obsessive nature and that he’s been watching Connie way before she saw him at the restaurant. He knew where her family was and what they were doing by simply staking out her house and following her family as they pulled off while Connie enjoyed her alone time until Arnold came back. This terrifying story is something that can very much happen in reality and to me is far from a fairy tale. 

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is captivating and incredibly eerie. Reading it felt as if I was watching a movie and yelling at the girl on screen to turn around and run away. The story seems to represent a young girl being groomed: manipulated by an older man to coerce her into agreeing to mental abuse. “I took a special interest in you, such a pretty girl, and found out all about you—like I know your parents and sister are gone somewheres and I know where and how long they’re going to be gone, and I know who you were with last night, and your best girl friend’s name is Betty. Right?” There is a terrifying aspect to this quote. Immediately, as the reader you might see flashing neon red flags, yet Connie is just confused.  Connie, although doing so hesitantly, is cooperating at first. It starts to seem like he almost has her convinced and then things escalate. After the escalation, Connie is defeated. This quote, “She was hollow with what had been fear but what was now just an emptiness. All that screaming had blasted it out of her.” is representing, to me, a victim fighting until they cannot fight anymore. At this point in the story, this is clear because Connie is now beginning to do everything Arnold says. The next few lines in the end of the story point to the victim being estranged from family and being convinced that it is okay. “… Be nice to me, be sweet like you can because what else is there for a girl like you but to be sweet and pretty and give in?—and get away before her people come back? ”She felt her pounding heart. Her hand seemed to […]

The story “Where are you going, where have you been?” is about a fifteen-year-old girl named Connie who goes to meet people who don’t treat her well. The story offers several interpretations of the event, including how awful things can happen in our lives and in our society. The story itself can be seen as a warning to young people about the dangers and terrible things that can happen in America. Connie’s character is portrayed as naive, unaware of the dangers of the world much like all young girls her age. Conversely, the character Arnold Friend is presented here as a nasty character, who hurts and deceives people. In her essay, Rena Korb makes a suggestion that some people may associate the character of Arnold Friend with the image of evil or the consequences of giving up one’s freedom at the hands of someone corrosive. It is a life lesson that aims to warn and warn young people.

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is about a young 15-year-old girl named Connie whom a child predator seduced. In my understanding, the story portrays how a child predator-prey on young girls. Connie seems to be a beautiful young girl that likes to be seen because of her beauty, and she feels that her mother doesn’t like her much as how she does her older sister, whom she always praises. Also, Connie’s father seems to be just interested in his work and not showing the family much attention. In my opinion, 99% of the time, when a family is like that, the one that gets less attention tends to seek it elsewhere, and for me, Connie seems to fall in that category. Connie likes to hang out with older teens, which can be alarming. The older “friends” she trusts can set her up to do or get into things she’s incapable of understanding or escaping from. And it is sad because in our society, the same vulnerable young kids get seduced and taken advantage of, and most of them are found dead. Several times we watch the news or read the papers and see that young teens have gone missing, but there is no trace of them; those are the teens that know their predators, but at first, they try to build their trust before they make their move. We must check our surroundings because, at times, we never know who is watching us, our children, and just waiting to make a move at the right time that pleases these predators. This story is a well-learned lesson for us not to put our trust in people, no matter the circumstances, and not to show favoritism to our children because it can lead to something displeasing along […]

After reading Rena Korb’s critical overview of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, I believe that the story can be interpreted in various ways, including as an inverted fairy tale, a tale of initiation into a depraved American culture, and a feminist allegory. However, I also noticed some other themes that were not explicitly mentioned by Korb. One of the themes that stood out to me was the idea of teenage rebellion and the consequences that can come with it. Connie is a typical teenager who wants to break free from her family and their values. She sees herself as mature and independent, but her encounter with Arnold Friend teaches her a harsh lesson about the dangers of the real world. This theme is relevant to today’s society where young people often feel the pressure to act like adults before they are ready. Another theme that I noticed is the power dynamics between men and women. Arnold Friend’s manipulation and control over Connie reflect a larger societal issue of men exerting dominance over women. The story highlights the vulnerability of women in such situations and their struggle to assert their own agency. Overall, the story is multi-layered and open to interpretation. The themes of teenage rebellion and power dynamics between men and women, along with the other interpretations suggested by Korb, make it a thought-provoking and complex story.

In preparation for the discussion of the stories for our discussions, I prefer to read a story several times, form my own vision about it, and only then read articles that analyze this text in order to consider the story from my own subjective point of view and not be attached to the thoughts of scholars. After reading this story, I fixed three thoughts: the first is terrible violence, but not in the form we are used to, but in a verbal one, the very concept of which curdles the blood. Secondly, this is a gender issue: in particular, the exact delimitation of the role of a woman in this story is noticeable on the basis of two sisters. Either you are an exemplary family woman, a housewife, etc. (remember the cult of femininity) and the second is our protagonist, also a rather stereotypical girl who is more interested in appearance and boys than any other issue. As well as the dialogue between Koni and the Friend, he really reminded me of modern gender realities, including today’s one. And the third is something terrible and supernatural, invisibly present in this story. There are a number of interpretations of this story in Corb’s article, such as initiation or inverted fairy tale, the diabolic motives, feminist allegory. I would like to note that the story is quite creepy, provided that there is not a single scene of violence or physical rudeness here. The author in this case refers to symbolic violence. According to wiki “symbolic violence describes a type of non-physical violence manifested in the power differential between social groups”, but why does the author use this phenomenon in the story. What does it describe? I believe that the main message of the author is a feminist message, symbolic violence between gender […]

“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.

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.

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” shows real life situations in the modern world today, such as, pedophiles hunting down children who end up being physically harmed or traumatized and get away with it. The story is about the safety of children, sexual maturity, and rape. In the text it states, “She cried out, she cried for her mother, she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it were something Arnold Friend was stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness.” (Oates). Furthermore, a girl in the story named Connie was raped after being left home alone, but she could not call for help since she was threatened with her family. In my opinion, Connie gave in to Arnold Friend knowing he was going to rape her because of body experience. “She watched herself push the door slowly open as if she were back safe somewhere in the other doorway, watching this body and this head of long hair moving out into the sunlight where Arnold Friend waited.” (Oates). Rapists get away with things, since some people are threatened or give in to them just for sexual experience.

The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is about a girl named Connie who comes across a man who is not very kind to her. The story discusses several interpretations of the event, such as viewing it as a fairy tale or a story about how awful things may happen in our society. However, the story also states that there is no straightforward explanation for the story’s meaning. The story is like a warning to young people about the awful things that may happen in America. Connie, the main character, is like many young people at the time who were unaware of the threats in the world. Arnold Friend is a nasty character who deceives and harms others. The story warns young girls to be cautious and mindful of the dangers that may arise. Regarding Rena Korb’s essay, I believe that she is suggesting that some people may perceive Arnold as a representation of either the devil or the potential consequences of giving up our freedom to someone who is harmful. The story also serves as a lesson to beware of caution as well as to be aware of putting our trust in others and the places we travel to.