Analysis of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been Essay

Analysis of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been, by Joyce Carol Oates is a coming-of-age story about a young girl, Connie, who encounters a man named Arnold Friend. Friend is a dominating man who makes Connie choose between conserving her innocence or submissing to the adult world of immorality. Oates reflects the naiveness of adolescents through Connie's attitudes and actions in the story.

Connie lives in a fantasy world, gallivanting with her friends around the shopping plaza (Oates 1009) or to a drive-in restraurant where older kids hung out (Oates 1010). She is pretty, well-liked, and has no trouble attracting boys. But her home life is a different story. Connie's mother is constantly nagging her and trying to put her down. She would say, Stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you're so pretty? (Oates 1009) To make matters worse, Connie's father is not very prevalent in her life, due to the fact that he is a workaholic. The audience also learns that Connie and her family are of little faith. None of them bothered with church (Oates 1011). This helps the audience to understand why Connie makes some of her decisions- she has never really been taught any solid morals.

One Sunday Connie opts out of going to a family barbeque so that she could dry her hair in the sun all day. While basking in the sun, she hears a car in the driveway and goes to see who it is. Two men in a bright gold jalopy pull up; one with shaggy, shabby black hair (Oates 1012) who we learn is named Arnold Friend and the other was a light-haired, shyer boy. The bright gold color of the car could be thought of as a warning sign to Connie, because gold is usually a color of caution. She recognizes the men and the car from the parking lot of a restraurant a few nights earlier. Friend represents something unknown, different, and almost exciting to Connie. He flatters her and tells her things about herself that reassure her that he is a good man. In doing this, Oates is showing easily influenced teenagers can be. Connie is letting a complete stranger persuade her and put her in harm's way.

Arnold Friend himself is a symbol for the debauchery of adulthood. He represents all the dangers and evils that children are taught by their parents to avoid. Oates continuously portrays Friend with a grin on his face. He grinned to reassure her and lines appeared at the corners of his mouth (Oates 1015). A smile is typically associated with something that is happy or comforting.When Friend flashes Connie his eeire smile, he is tricking her into feeling comfortable in his presence and alleviate any apprehensions.

When Arnold Friend comes to Connie's home, the fantasty world she was living in is quickly shattered. She is utterly confused and up until now has never been faced with the challenge of choosing between keeping her innocent, adolescent life or entering the dangers of adulthood. Arnold Friend wants to take Connie for a ride in his car. Connie's choice about taking the car ride with Friend could be considered a symbol for Connie's decision between adolescence and becoming an adult. If she stays home, she would be chosing to remain chaste. But if she decides to go with Friend, then she is choosing to grow up and face the world as an adult.

Connie's hesitant actions tell the audience that she is unsure about her choice. She moves slowly, as if she cannot believe she is in such a dilemma. She watched herself push the door slowly open as if she were safe back somewhere in the other doorway (Oates 1021). Connie is so torn between the two worlds, adolescence and adulthood. Her family, friends, and fantasy teen life are all holding her back from going with Friend and caving into the temptations of being an adult. Connie finally gives in to Friend, and goes with him to land that Connie had never seen before and did not recognize except to know that she was going to it (Oates 1021). This land that is mentioned refers to all the experiences that adolescence has prevented her from having. The world of adulthood that Connie once viewed as captivating is now very real to her. She ultimately gave into the allurement of adulthood before she want mentally prepared, and she now must find her way in a sink-or-swim fashion.

Oates accurately portrayed the naivete of adolescence through Connie's decision to become an adult. The audience can easily perceive the message that the real world is not truly as enticing as it seems. There are many dangers awaiting adolescents in the real world, and it is essential to their success that they be fully prepared for what's to come.