False Perception And Reality In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

At times an individual may perceive something as the complete opposite of what the truth really is. They may create illusions, almost as a fantasy perception of what they want to believe in and sometimes result in a situation. False perception verses reality is used in Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “ Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. The theme fantasy verses reality is incorporated within her story. Connie, the main character, tries very hard to create an adult role using her physical appearance , and attitude in order to attract boys, but is blinded from the reality of the society she currently lives in. Living in her fantasy world , she later becomes trapped by the antagonist, Arnold Friend, which automatically snaps her back

Oates portrays Arnold as the opposing image to Connie’s immature fantasy world. He knows that he can easily benefit from Connie’s failure to accept reality and lure her in. Arnold grows no intensions of stopping, even if it means to do so by force. Every characteristic about Arnold represents his dark mysterious persona. His physical appearance is less than impressive, his “shaggy shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig” (180). By Oates describing his hair as a wig, embodies a cover up from his behalf, while Connie’s blonde hair symbolizes purity and innocence. Arnold wearing sunglasses serves as another symbol towards his disguise. His sunglasses reflect mirror like images that prohibits to see his eyes, or where he is looking at. Arnold’s car serves as an addition to himself. The new paintjob on his car is used to embody his fake disguise that he tends to show in order to lure Connie in. The cars gold color gives off a flashy impression that he uses in order to attract the attention of the younger crowd. Connie argues that the bright color is too much for her eyes and is quickly puzzled by the phrase “ Man the flying saucers” on the front fender of his car. Oates explains, “It was an expression kids used the year before but didn’t use it this year” (183). This alarms Connie that there is something wrong about Arnold ; he claims to be the same age as her, but he is not so persuasive. The car starts becoming a

As Arnold’s remarks and statements become more sexual and severe, her perception of a fantasy world is stripped away and now she is caught in between the scary truth of her dilemma. Her hopes of her family coming home soon, is irrelevant. Connie both horrified and amazed by his accuracy descriptions of her family leads her to begin screaming that he is crazy and to leave her house at once or else she will call the police. Arnold, without hesitation threatens her by saying he will not follow her into her house unless she touches the phone. With trembling fingers, Connie fails to lock the door of her house, but Arnold quickly points out that he could break down the door if he wanted to. Questioning what he wanted, Arnold replies that he wants her, and that he knew that she was the one for him. Arnold asks Connie to come out of the house or he will cause harm to her family. Connie makes her last effort to call for help, but is unable to reach the telephone. Connie “ cried out for her mother, she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it was something Arnold Friend was stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness” (189). By this part of the story, Arnold has taken complete control of Connie and her emotions. Connie cannot think for herself and much less make that call for help. Keeping Connie trapped in her own home, makes Arnold seem possessive, and the