An Analysis Of Joyce Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

The human mind and its subconscious capacity can be disturbing. A person can only access a percentage of the knowledge and memories that their brain holds. The unknown in this case and many others is a large source of fear for certain individuals. To exemplify that fear the human body and mind make unconscionable decisions when under distress or in dire situations. Lack of control over the things that are unknown and reflex reactions are too rarely discussed and very present in society. Joyce Oates uses symbolism, imagery, and characters in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” to show that Connie is both curious and terrified of becoming an adult woman. Most children look forward to growing up and all of the milestones to come. As these

Oates’ writing style is described by Kalapakian as, “Drastic acts with drastic consequences…doomed love, destructive sex, fear, evil, madness.” (Kalapakian) This is especially present in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” considering the fact that it is inspired from a murder and rapist (Oates 205). While telling this fabricated situation Oates leaves an underlying fear in Connie that is repeatedly brought up in different ways, such as her mothering comparing her to her sister. “Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister…You don’t see your sister using that junk.”(Oates 194) making it evident that Connie is worried she may never live up to be like her sister and may never please her parents or herself. Joyce Oates’ writing may have been unorthodox but in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” she addresses a reoccurring phenomenon in adolescents that is too often

A satyr is a demi-god from Greek and Roman Mythology (Easterly). When discussing how this is demonstrated throughout the text Easterly says, “By then, Connie is the reluctant but spellbound nymph whose will is completely destroyed, a more sympathetic interpretation of Connie as an inexperienced and unprotected adolescent rather than as a sinner corrupted by Satan.” (Easterly). This lends understanding to why Connie loses her will power over the course of the story as well as building the belief in Connie being a scared child. Similarly, Arnold tells Connie “What else is there for a girl like you but to be sweet and pretty and give in?” (Oates 204). Arnold is using Connie’s pride in appearance against her to demonstrate how naïve she is. This weakness of Connie’s can be attributed to the fact that Connie has yet to grow into an adult with an accurate awareness of judgement and danger. The view of Arnold being a Satyr helps to further prove that Connie buckles under the pressure of a dominate figure just as she buckles under the pressure of her