What is the symbolism in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

What is the symbolism in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

The Car (Symbol) In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” it is notable that men drive and women are passengers. When Arnold Friend offers to take Connie for a ride, he is seeking to gain control over her and her movements. As an instrument of control, his car stands as a symbol for his whole persona.

What does Ellie symbolize in Where Are You Going Where have you been?

In her 1990 journal article published in Studies in Short Fiction entitled “The Shadow of a Satyr in Oates’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” literary critic Joan Easterly posits that the name “Ellie Oscar is a parody of the name of the Greek god of mercy, Elios.” This is a highly defensible theory of the …

Why is Arnold friend attracted to Connie?

Arnold is attracted to Connie’s beauty and the innocence of her youth. As the author outlines at the beginning of the story, Connie has the type of long, dark blonde hair that attracts admiring looks—looks which, at the age of 15, she is becoming increasingly aware of.

How would you describe Arnold friend?

Arnold Friend, with his suggestive name that hints at “Arch Fiend,” is an ambiguous figure who may be either demon or human, fantasy or reality. Arnold makes a grand entrance at Connie’s house in his gold convertible, but beyond his ostentatious car, his appearance is less than impressive.

Who is Eddie in where are you going?

Eddie is a teenager, slightly older than Connie, who picks her up at the drive-in restaurant and with whom Connie spends an evening. Ellie Oscar is Arnold Friend’s older, charmless sidekick whose primary interest is his radio and who volunteers to disconnect the telephone in Connie’s house.

What is Connie’s initial reaction when Arnold friend pulls up to her house in his gold painted car?

What is Connie’s initial reaction when Arnold Friend pulls up to her house in his gold-painted car? She worries about how she looks.

Is Where Are You Going Where have you been an allegory?

“[The] story is clearly an allegory of the fatal attractions of death (or the devil),” Oates explains. “An innocent young girl is seduced by way of her own vanity; she mistakes death for erotic romance of a particularly American/trashy sort” (source).

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been title?

What is the meaning of the title of Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” The questions are not asked in the story. The title also points to the strained relationship between Connie and her parents, who nag her about her behavior but do not question her actions.

Where Are You Going Where have you been conflict?

Conflicts present in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” include an ongoing conflict between Connie and her mother about the way she lives her life. A second conflict arises between Connie and “Arnold Friend” who arrives at her house when she is home alone with the intention of abducting her.

Where Are You Going Where have you been based on serial killer?

It was inspired by three Tucson, Arizona murders committed by Charles Schmid, which were profiled in Life magazine in an article written by Don Moser on March 4, 1966. Oates said that she dedicated the story to Bob Dylan because she was inspired to write it after listening to his song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue”.

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been metaphor?

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” the home represents the world of family and tradition. When Arnold Friend is threatening to collapse Connie’s home, he is threatening her childhood world.

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been tone and mood?

Tone and Mood “Where Are You Going; Where Have You Been” considers Connie’s teenage world and tragic situation very seriously. As Arnold Friend’s intentions become clearer, the story’s mood, initially somewhat journalistic, becomes decidedly unsettling and surreal.