In “Where Are You Going . . . ,” Oates explores this social upheaval in miniature: Connie, one young woman out of a country of young women, must confront her own questions and anxieties as she transitions into adulthood. Her separation from her home and family is violent, and Arnold Friend is by no means a savior.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been theme of evil?
In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Connie and Arnold clearly symbolize the theme of good versus evil, and Joyce Carol Oates portrays that the strength of evil can easily overpower good. Arnold embodies the fundamental nature of evil, while Connie’s soul is pure and innocent.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been theme of independence?
The most important themes in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates are independence versus control, harassment, and versions of reality. Important motifs in the short story are music, appearances, and dizziness.
What is painted on Arnold Friend’s car?
When Connie asks him what the stuff painted on his car means, Arnold goes through the various sayings and eventually comes to the numbers 33,19, 17. He tells Connie, “Now, these numbers are a secret code, honey” (1007).
What happens to Connie at the end of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Connie is compelled to leave with him and do what he demands of her. The story ends as Connie leaves her front porch; her eventual fate is left ambiguous.”
Why is Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been dedicated to Bob Dylan?
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”. The story was originally named “Death and the Maiden”.
What is the significance of the expression man the flying saucers on Arnold Friend’s car in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Arnold’s Car
She complains that the color of the car is so bright that it hurts her eyes, and she is puzzled by the phrase “Man the flying saucers” on the front fender, which was an expression that her peers used to use but that has fallen out of fashion.
How old is Connie in where are you going?
Connie. The fifteen-year-old protagonist of the story. Connie is in the midst of an adolescent rebellion. She argues with her mother and sister, June, and neglects family life in favor of scoping out boys at the local restaurant.
What are Connie’s two sides?
At home, Connie appears childish, but away from home, she strives to appear sexy, mature, and seductive. For the most part, her two sides seem to exist in harmony. She argues with her mother and sister at home, but otherwise her transition from child to woman and back again seems to happen effortlessly.
What is the theme of A and P by John Updike?
The main themes in “A&P” are the conflict between ideals and reality and the consequences that taking action entails. Actions and consequences: The heart of the story is the idea that actions have consequences. For Sammy, the price of sticking up for his beliefs is the loss of his job.
What were Arnold’s first words to Connie?
The first words out of his mouth are “Gonna get you, baby.”
What does Arnold Friend symbolize in the story?
Arnold Friend clearly symbolizes the devil through his physical traits, his knowledge of Connie, and his power over her kind of like he was hypnotizing her to go with him. First, Arnold Friend’s physical traits portray him as Satan.
What is the significance of the name of 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.
What does Connie symbolize in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Many critics have interpreted Arnold Friend as a symbol of some larger idea or force, such as the devil, death, or sexuality. Connie, also, has been said to represent many things: Eve, troubled youth, or spiritually unenlightened humanity.
Who does Connie’s mother Compare Connie to?
Connie’s mother likes to compare her to June, her older sister that’s twenty-four years old, still lives at home and works as a secretary at her high school. Her mother also criticizes her by saying, “Stop gawking at yourself.
What is the secret code in where are you going?
The Code On the Car
The code, 33, 19, 17 has at least two meanings. First, the reader can discover the title of the story. By counting backwards in the Old Testament of the Bible, 33 books, you will arrive at the book of Judges.
