Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Group at eNotes

One (of many) interpretations of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You...

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 19:35:19 PST

One (of many) interpretations of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" is that Arnold Friend is, in fact, the devil. While I see nothing to imply a comparison, it seems that Arnold may in fact be "Old Scratch" himself. Consider what he calls himself, A. Friend. He tells Connie that he wants to her her friend- much as the devil would. Also, if we remove the r's from Arnold Friend, he becomes A nold Fiend= An Old Fiend. What better...

Does Oates compare Arnold to the devil in "Where Are You Going, Where...

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:25:29 PST

Does Oates compare Arnold to the devil in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"?

Hi! I moved your title to "Where are you going, where have you Been"...

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 12:46:17 PST

Hi! I moved your title to "Where are you going, where have you Been" from "Paul's Case", just so you know. Yes, "Where are you going, Where have You Been" would be considered intepretive and not escape literature. First, it was based on true events that inspired the author to re-tell the story from a different perspective to send out a message, not merely to entertain. Also, there is symbolism in the story; for example, the man represents...

Is "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" an example of interpretive...

Sun, 7 Jun 2009 09:27:41 PST

Is "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" an example of interpretive or escape literature

Answering the last part first, Connie is definitely in conflict with...

Thu, 28 May 2009 13:45:09 PST

Answering the last part first, Connie is definitely in conflict with herself-as are most 15 year olds. She doesn't know exactly what she wants and is torn between what she feels she should be and what she really wants. Neither she nor the reader know exactly what this is. Connie, the protagonist, is in conflict with Arnold because he represents the ultimate wild side- some argue that he even represents the devil. He plays mind games with...

How/Why are the protagonist and the antagonist are in conflict with other?

Thu, 28 May 2009 12:19:54 PST

How/Why are the protagonist and the antagonist are in conflict with other?

The author claims they are random--but little is random about Oates'...

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:06:35 PST

The author claims they are random--but little is random about Oates' story design. The Biblical theories seem too valid to be coincidental, especially the one that ties the title of the story to a Bibical passage mentioning the title! Some of my students have another theory. Friend is obviously a pervert: just add'em up.

in where are you going, where have you been. by joyce carol oates---Do...

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:25:30 PST

in where are you going, where have you been. by joyce carol oates---Do you thing that there is love of any kind in the story?

In the last few chapters of "Where are you Going, Where have you been?"...

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:03:08 PST

I had to pick a short story from a list that my English Teacher gave us, so I picked this one. I read it, and It was pretty simple to understand, but the last few paragraphs were weird. I don't understand why Connie went with Arnold Friend in the end, I know he was threatening her and everything, but still. Can somebody just break it down for me?

Well, what I have noticed is that Ellie is supposedly wearing a popped...

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:24:56 PST

Well, what I have noticed is that Ellie is supposedly wearing a popped collar, maybe representing a former rock idol? Charles Shmidt, the killer Arnold Friend is based on was a huge fan of Elvis, often wearing a popped collar and other fashion styles "The King" would wear. That's one theory. If it comes to the Devil theory, Ellie is just his companion. Of course Arnold Friend can be translated into "A nold F iend" if you take away certain...

Why can this story be called a story of initiation? Explain. (A story of...

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:25:46 PST

Why can this story be called a story of initiation? Explain. (A story of initiation is a story in which the protagonist has an experience very painful

To come of age means to move as a teen or child from a place of...

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:07:21 PST

To come of age means to move as a teen or child from a place of innocence into experience. The question you must ask is, In what ways is Connie innocent, and how is that innocence changed into experiential knowledge (if not destroyed)? At first glance, Connie seems fairly astute for a fifteen year-old when it comes to the opposite sex, perhaps too "sharp," for her age, in that she's very interested in boys and knows how to manipulate them to...

What does "coming of age" mean in "Where are you going, where have you...

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:40:10 PST

What does "coming of age" mean in "Where are you going, where have you been"?

What significance does arnold have in the story 'where are you going...

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 07:51:49 PST

What significance does arnold have in the story 'where are you going where have you been'

What would Connie's transforming experience be in this story?

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:29:31 PST

What would Connie's transforming experience be in this story?

How might the title be a reference to this theme of sexual coming of age?

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:01:16 PST

How might the title be a reference to this theme of sexual coming of age?

That could be tricky to pin down, since Joyce Carol Oates herself has...

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:11:16 PST

That could be tricky to pin down, since Joyce Carol Oates herself has stated there are several different, yet acceptable, interpretations of the piece. One of the more "popular" readings of the short story deals with the concept of the end of innocence and the acceptance of the harsh adult world. Connie is believed by many to be symbolically now aware that her innocent stage of life is over when she opens that screen door. Arnold...

What are examples of the innate nature of man in "Where are you...

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:30:34 PST

What are examples of the innate nature of man in "Where are you Going, Where Have You Been"?

The numbers can represent the ages of Arnold Friend's victims. Notice...

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 04:24:31 PST

The numbers can represent the ages of Arnold Friend's victims. Notice that the numbers are descending which could correspond with the first victim that is mentioned, who can be considered old to a teenager. Since Connie is 15, it also follows the pattern. It also could represent the Bible verse in Judges. It is the 33rd book in the Old Testament if you count backwards.

the hoofs for feet thing is just to sway you. so is the disguies of the...

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:34:10 PST

the hoofs for feet thing is just to sway you. so is the disguies of the wig and what appears to be a mask. the actual killer who the story is loosly based on use to put things in his boots to make him taller. he also use to dye his hair raven black and where makeup and mascara to enhance his appearence it's all in a time magazine article i'll put the link in. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,834699,00.html