Teenage girls generally try to find their princes with their white horses in dreams and they really want to meet their love of their life in one day. These girls engage in this dream so much that they assume that the first people they met is the love of their lives. In the short story which is named as "Where are you going, where have been?, we encounter a girl like these teenage girls. Her name is Connie, who is and 15 year-old, beautiful but also irresponsible girl. She always care about her appereance and wishes boys to care about her appereance, too.
One day, while she was dreaming again while listening to music, a car comes to their home. Without thinking the other step, she goes towards this car and gets into it. There were two men, and as Connie thought that these men were interested in her beauty, she did not see any harm to talk with them. After a while, she discerns the danger, but it was too late. Then, she first thinks about her mother and her bed. That is to say, while Connie is behaving as an adult by caring about her outfit and boys, as a child, she still depends on her mother.
To sum up, "Where are you going, where have you been?" is a crucial embodiement about the coming of age and its affects. As i read from some sources, Carol Oates wrote her masterpiece by the inspiration of the news that some teenagers girls were kidnapped. She may draw attention to the dangers which teenagers might encounter. On the other hand, isn't it possible that Connie is still dreaming?
Nice one! I really like your blogging style here, the way you've framed the story with comments on teenage girls.
ReplyDeleteJust one thing, though: Connie stays in the house and talks to Arnold through the screen door until the very last sentence of the story. She senses the danger and has to make a wrenching decision whether or not to leave safety and security.
It's very likely Connie is daydreaming - if that is the case, what do you think her encounter with Arnold Friend represents?
Thank you very much Sonja :)
ReplyDeleteI think Arnold Friend is used here to draw attention against dangers. It is highly possible that he is considered as the whole danger in streets. Moreover, i think that Arnold Friend is also the representation of the satanism as he does the cross or the number can take us to this point.