Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Compared to A Good Man is Hard to Find Essay

In the stories "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" by Joyce Carol Oates and "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" by Flannery O'Connor both of the main characters are trapped by men who are going to eventually kill them. Both stories stress the fact that you can't always talk your way out of danger or evil situations. When dangerous men trap you, your sweet talk or pretty face isnt going to get you out of trouble or deaths clammy hands. In the end, they may even be the cause of your demise.

In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" the main character Connie is a very attractive young girl who gets many peoples (boys or men) attention. Unfortunately, one day she caught the wrong man's attention. While her family went to a family picnic, Connie decided that she wanted to stay home. She heard a car pull up and when she caught a glimpse of the boys she recognized the driver from the night before. The drivers said his name was Arnold Friend. They wanted to take her for a ride and Arnold was very persistent. Finally, she noticed something about the boys. They weren't boys. How ironic was it that Arnolds last name is Friend is, however, he wasnt intending to a friend to Connie. After coming to the realization, Connie told them that they should leave, but they wouldn't. Then, Arnold began to talk about the barbecue that her family was at like he was there and he knew everyone's name. Connie began to panic, she told Arnold that he was crazy and she was going to call the police. He proceeded to harass her. He told said, "It's all over for you here, so come out. Then, she went out the screen door where Arnold Friend was waiting. She had given up. She knew at that point that she could not save herself.

Likewise, in A Good Man Is Hard To Find" the main character that tries to talk her way out of getting killed is the grandmother. There was a killer on the loose called the Misfit and was heading towards Florida, where the family was going. Despite the grandmothers attempts to stop them from going they went anyway. On their way they had an accident. They were trapped in a ditch. Then, three men stopped and came out of the car. They had guns. While the grandmother talked to the Misfit, her son and grandson were taken into the woods. "There was a pistol shot from the woods, followed closely by another. Then silence. She knew what happened. Knowing that her life was in danger she said I know you wouldn't shoot a lady. She was trying to persuade the Misfit not to kill her. Seeing that he wasnt going to spare her, in her last desperate attempt to save herself she reached out to touch him. Misfit shot her three times through the chest.

In both stories the characters tried to talk there way out of getting killed, and they both failed. Connie was relying on her good looks and charm while the grandmother used the phrase; "You wouldn't shoot a lady". She also tried to convert the convict into a believer. The main conflicts involved were figuring out the connection between the two killings and how they approached their attackers. Connie used charm and threats, both, which worked against her. When she went to the phone it caused her more problems. The grandmother used her age and guilt and her faith. Telling him that he wouldn't kill a lady, and that he was a good man. She tried to talk her way into his head and heart. That also got her killed. After reading both stories for a second time, I was able to connect them both together. I realized that not only the two protagonists had something in common. However, both of the antagonists had similarities. Both Arnold Friend and the Misfit used murder and manipulation to feel some sort of satisfaction. They used force and violence to make themselves fit in to a part of society (outcast or negative part). Also, both were convicts and had no moral, ethical or spiritual beliefs. It was clear that both the Misfit and Arnold friend had their minds made up about doing something wicked. One last small similarity that I noticed was that they both had an accomplice(s); someone to do their dirty work or someone to keep their company. Interpreting stories can be very difficult. You have to reread stories to get the full meaning of them and many don't want to waste their time doing that. It is very beneficial though. I am one of those people who sometimes don't remember the story I just read if it doesn't interest me. But in this essay, rereading the stories gave me a better understanding and more to think about than when I read them the first time. It is the small details that are the most precious when analyzing stories. It is clear that tragic events bring out the most in people. It took extreme measures for both Connie and the grandmother to realize how valuable life really is and being an outcast pressured Arnold Friend and the Misfit to find attention or satisfaction doing wrong things.

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