The short story Where are You Going, Where Have You Been? tells the story of an adolescent girl and her unfortunate fate in the hands of a malicious sexual predator. Written by Joyce Carol Oates, the story highlights the dangers of preoccupation with one’s image at the expense of their character. The protagonist in the story is shown to be Connie while the antagonist is Arnold Friend. While most people may argue that Connie did not deserve such a predicament, I feel that her character led to her ultimate downfall.
Connie is shown to be rebellious. In comparison to the foil in the story – her sister June – Connie is shown to be unwilling to listen to her parents. She engages in behavior that is shunned by her family members. She is not as disciplined towards their mother. For instance, when her family is intent on visiting their aunt’s house, Connie insists on staying behind. Thus, “her parents and sister were going to a barbecue at an aunt’s house and Connie said no, she wasn’t interested, rolling her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it” (Oates 308). The statement offers a reflection of Connie’s rebellious nature. Possibly, if she had gone with her parents to her aunt’s house, she would have averted her unbecoming fate at the hands of the malicious Arnold Friend. Connie’s rebellious nature led to her capture by the antagonist in the story.
The protagonist is also shown to be irresponsible. Her responsibility is manifested in her preoccupation with her appearance. Her mother exasperatedly inquires, “why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? How’ve you got your hair fixed – what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk.” (Oates 306). Principally, the foil in the story was used to stress Connie’s carefree nature. The protagonist also spends the majority of her time loitering the streets of the city. It is in one of her exploits in town that she meets the dreadful Arnold Friend who takes an interest in her. Mainly, Connie’s actions are inspired by the need to attract boys. She sought to conjure an image of an individual who is wild and free at the expense of responsibility. Thus, “Connie had to hear her (June) praised all the time by her mother and her mother’s sisters. June did this, June did that, she saved money and helped clean the house and cooked and Connie couldn’t do a thing, her mind was filled with trashy daydreams.” (Oates 306). If Connie had assumed a responsible mien, she would have been able to avoid the contact made with her final executioner, Arnold Friend.
Notably, the character is hypocritical, she assumes different characters with the intention of appealing to the individuals who surround her. At home she pretends to be a meek and disciplined figure while outside she is shown to be reckless. According to Oates, “she wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home. Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home.” (306). Similarly, the character conveys the idea that her mother is overbearing to her friends while knowing that she is the cause of the conflict. The hypocritical nature of the character leads to her ultimate downfall. Her attempts to fit in within the circle of her friends exposes her to the dangers that are portended by characters such as Arnold Friend. Possibly, Connie would have been able to avert her situation if she had opted to assume a steady character.
Connie’s quest was to be liked by her peers. She chose to go against her family’s wishes given the need to belong in a group of individuals who were considered to be sophisticated. Her hunger for validation, given her sense of self-entitlement, exposed her to significant danger from the lecherous individuals within her circle. While she interacts positively with her peers, the protagonist is shown to project loathe for her sister and mother. Still, despite her shortcomings, Connie was the victim of a shift in the social setting during the period. First published in 1966, the narration offers insight on the influences of the Hippie culture in the aftermath of World War II. The changes inspired significant shifts in individual’s perceptions of their sexuality and individuality.
Conclusively, Connie’s character exposed her to the danger posed by Arnold Friend. The protagonist is shown to be irresponsible, hypocritical and rebellious. All of the characters converge to expose her to bad relationships which lead to her unfortunate fate. In the end, Connie is able to establish her shortcomings. However, by that time, she is already late and in the mercy of her executioner. Still, it is important to note that Connie’s interactions played a critical role in offering insight on the elements of the hippie culture and the influences of the same on individual characters.
Work Cited
Oates, Joyce Carol. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” In. Burto, Barnet, Cain and Nixon. Literature for Composition: An Introduction to Literature, pp. 305-316.
