Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

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Have you ever felt the pull of temptation so strong that it threatened to shatter your innocence and alter the course of your life forever? Joyce Carol Oates provides readers with an unsettling territory, exploring the blurred lines between adolescence and adulthood, and the hunting consequences of giving in to the siren call of danger, within her story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Through the journey of this short story, the narrator highlights the complexities of shifting from youth to adulthood, the nature of external influences and the dangers of giving way to forbidden desires, allowing themes to shine through throughout the story. Now you can explore how the dynamic between Connie and Arnold exemplifies the significant …show more content…
Connie’s desire for independence, rebellious attitude, tendency to daydream, and the strained relationships with her parents cultivate or determine her behaviors throughout the story. Reflecting on her obsession with her appearance, this is a manifestation of her desire to assert independence and control over her identity. This is visible in Anand’s analysis of the story where they wrote,” Her teenage longing at gaining social visibility propels her to behave flirtatiously with men. Connie, therefore, represents the pulls between nature and culture, a dichotomy that is at the heart of the naturalistic disclosure, as she is ordained to behave like a modest girl inside her house and is an instinctive/sexualized being outside” (Anand and Sirrupa 4). Suggesting that her behavior is indeed influenced by her desire and struggle for self-acceptance and individuality. Furthermore, Connie’s rebellious attitude and tendency to daydream are also indicative of independence and her struggle to reconcile her innocence with her desire for experience. She is constantly at odds with her mother, who criticizes her for her rebellious behavior and warns her about the dangers of the …show more content…
Connie is constantly at a line split between her instincts and external influences that explores what her reactions are towards temptations and forbidden desires. This is where Arnold Friend comes into the storyline. He is portrayed as a charismatic and seductive figure who essentially preys on Connie’s desires and vulnerabilities. As previously stated, she uses various manipulation tactics and psychological tactics to gain control over her. These strategies exploit her low self-esteem and desire for acceptance or validation. Arnold represents the dangers of giving in to one’s desires without considering the consequences. This is noticeable when Connie experiences conflicting emotions when Arnold tries to seduce her, feeling both fear and a strange attraction towards him. Oates writes, “She felt her pounding heart. Her hands seemed to enclose it” (Oates 1028). In this critical period of teens, actions of self-discovery that revolve around the nature of transitioning from childhood to adulthood, external influences and giving way to temptations
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