Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates
Reader-Response Analysis
Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? is a short-story by Joyce Carol Oates that tells the story of Connie, a fifteen-year-old girl who enjoys being promiscuous and hanging out with older boys. On one of these outings, she is spotted by a guy she doesn't know, and later on, when she is home alone, he shows up in front of her house, asking her to go for a car ride with him and his companion, Ellie. At first she is intrigued, but soon she realizes something is not quite right about the situation. After refusing his requests for a while, Connie eventually goes with him. The story ends inconclusively, leaving readers wondering exactly what happened to Connie.
When I first read the title, Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? I expected the story to be about some kind of journey, perhaps with a traveler recounting his or her stories to listeners who ask the questions in the title. The story can be viewed as a journey because of what Connie goes through, but the title does not reveal very much about the text.
From the point when Arnold Friend arrives at Connie's house, there are clues in the text to suggest to readers that this situation is abnormal. First, Arnold leans against his car "as if he were balancing himself." When he takes of his sunglasses, Connie notices the skin around his eyes is pale. Arnold then tells Connie several things he knows about her and recites a list of kids they both know, saying "I know everybody." His car has a phrase that Connie remembers being popular in the previous year, but not this one. Suddenly, Connie notices he must be at least thirty years old. All these things about Arnold relate to the murders this story is based on: an adult man who fit in with teenagers and killed several of them. It is with this realization that Connie decides she is not safe, and tries to take refuge in her house. I first read this story without the knowledge of the real murders, and while I felt Arnold Friend and his friend Ellie Oscar were odd and creepy, this is when I also realized something very dangerous and scary was happening. I believed he was a grown man trying to pass off as a teenager to kidnap teenage girls.
There are, however, some possibly "supernatural" aspects to this story. Arnold Friend tells Connie what is happening at the barbecue where her family is, and he marks her with his "sign," which is an X he draws in the air that hangs there, "almost visible." The information Arnold has about Connie could be what he gathered through stalking her, but he appears to be more powerful than the average human. Arnold Friend cannot, or does not, enter her home, and says he promises not to unless she picks up the phone to call for help. Some critics believe Arnold symbolizes the devil or some other kind of demonic creature. Vampires, for example, are believed to be unable to enter homes unless invited in. This also suggests the idea that the devil cannot force himself on you; you have to go to him.
Some parts of the story don't quite add up. Connie is left home alone while her parents and sister go to a barbecue at her aunt's house. While Connie is alone, she basks in the sun in the yard and it is unclear whether or not she falls asleep during this period, but when she opens her eyes, she feels something has changed. This presents the possibility that Connie is dreaming up this whole encounter. When she is talking to Arnold Friend, she tells him, "But my father's coming back. He's coming to get me. I had to wash my hair first..." This leaves the audience asking whether he really was going to pick her up. Maybe Connie just wanted to wash her hair before the barbecue and her dad said he'd bring her back later. The time frame of the story is unclear, which adds to the evidence that this experience may be simply a dream. During my first reading of the story, I thought Connie was having a mental breakdown because of the way she responded to Arnold's advances. Instead of slamming the door and calling the police, she panicked and could not bring herself to dial the phone and heard the dial tone as a loud roar. To me it seemed that she was overwhelmed by the situation and forgot what she should do to protect herself. After further analyzing the text and reading other analyses of it, however, I have realized there are other possible explanations for the story.
Lots of great analyzing! You caught a lot more details that I missed when reading the story. I think you could cut down on the summarizing a bit. I like how you included what critics thought of the short story as well. You did a great job of explaining how Arnold can be compared to a vampire or the devil. I do not agree with you when you said, "This leaves the audience asking whether he really was going to pick her up. Maybe Connie just wanted to wash her hair before the barbecue and her dad said he'd bring her back later." In the beginning of the story Connie specifically tells her mother that she has no interest in going to the barbecue. She only tells Arnold this as an excuse for him to leave. I like how you brought up the idea of it possibly being a dream, you could go into more detail about that.
ReplyDeleteRachel,
ReplyDeleteYou do a very good job summarizing the story, though I’d watch the “promiscuous” – Connie is presented as being very innocent despite her interest in boys (at least through most of the story. As put here, a reader would imagine she’s well versed in sex.)
“wondering exactly what happened to Connie” – present tense ☺
“first she is intrigued, but soon she realizes something is not quite right about the situation. After refusing his requests for a while, Connie eventually goes with him . . .” Is this an internal conflict? And the resolution to the conflict? (Still relevant in Reader Response, and I think this is exactly what you’re implying here, so name it explicitly)
“When I first read the title, Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been? I expected the story to be about some kind of journey, perhaps with a traveler recounting his or her stories to listeners who ask the questions in the title. The story can be viewed as a journey because of what Connie goes through, but the title does not reveal very much about the text.” This textually clarifies the theoretical model you’re using – good. You could develop a bit of explanation as to why (maybe using the personal) you hold your initial expectations having read only the title…
“The story can be viewed as a journey because of what Connie goes through, but the title does not reveal very much about the text. . .” Good place to draw a larger conclusion/make an overarching statement about the significance of said journey.
“First, Arnold leans against his car "as if he were balancing himself” – I expect you’re going to deal with/talk about the “as ifs” throughout?
The third paragraph, which begins, “From the point of view . . .” could be more effectively organized. I got a bit lost as it’s dealing with signals, then the inspirational real life scenario and there’s little transition from the “signal” stuff to “All these things about Arnold relate to the murders this story is based on: . . .” Here, explain the connection and specific names (“Pied Piper” murders; Charles Schmid, etc.) The average reader needs more context and transitioning here.
When you say, “I believed he was a grown man trying to pass off as a teenager to kidnap teenage girls…” consider using the language of Reader Response criticism: (i.e., “my initial expectations regarding the motivation of antagonist Arnold Friend were a, and the story seemingly meets these expectations (he does, in a sense, kidnap Connie and possibly murders her).
“There are, however, some possibly "supernatural" aspects to this story.” Again, try to use the language of the theory to set up such statements (“the text signals that the story isn’t entirely realistic. Various clues suggest the supernatural . . .”)
Here, too: “To me it seemed that she was overwhelmed by the situation and forgot what she should do to protect herself. After further analyzing the text and reading other analyses of it, however, I have realized there are other possible explanations for the story. (For instance, “my initial reading positioned Connie as a panicked, immature young woman, but my assumptions have been confronted with other possibilities . . . )
For the most part, you’re doing exactly what you need to be doing, but you often aren’t explicitly stating where you’re dealing with clues/signals, gaps and expectations. Doing so will make the analysis more effective and easier to follow. I hope the feedback proves somewhat useful!
A
very helpful, thank you!
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