English Literature the Two Short Term Paper

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Likewise, Joyce Carol Oates short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? also involves a basic story of violence with a more symbolic meaning. To summarize Oates' style is to say her works typically mix the themes of Gothic estrangement and high social observations with violence being a central theme, often to a sensationalist point. Interestingly, she cites William Faulkner as one of her major influences.

The story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? is inspired by the Tucson murders of Charles Schmid, a 1960's serial killer who killed between three and four individuals in the Tucson area. Oates' also claims that the story was inspired by Bob Dylan (who she dedicated the anthology by the same name to) song entitled it's All Over Now, Baby Blue. Further, the title of the story is in reference to Judges 19:17 of the Old Testament, which states, "And the old man lifted up his eyes and saw the wayfarer in the street of the city; and the old man said to him, Where are you going? And Whence do you come?"

In the story, the main character, Connie, is a beautiful fifteen-year-old girl. While her parents are away, two men pull up to her house and ask for her to come out. The driver, Arnold Friend, tells Connie that he is 18 and that he has come to take her away. However, Connie realizes this is a stranger and that he is really much older than eighteen.

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Hence, she refuses to go with them. Arnold then becomes more forceful and threatening and Connie finally goes with him and do what he demands of her. The story ends with Connie leaving her front porch.

Although the reader is not told of what happens to Connie, because of the detail given in the story of Arnold's character, it is read that she experiences some form of violence. The reason the reader is able to make this connection is that Arnold represents evil, or even the devil. Further, the author offers the reader clues as to Arnold's real identity. For instance, if one removes the "r" from his name it spells an Old Fiend, a popular name given to the devil. When Arnold is described, his face is said to be "stretched and masklike" and that his boots "stand out at unnatural angles," suggesting the presence of a hoof. Finally, there are numerous references to the number six, such a the words Arnold, Friend and Jalopy, all words associated with Arnold and all that have six letters, adding up to the number 666.

Clearly, these two short stories serve as examples of how an author is able to tell two stories through a combination of narrative and symbolism. At the basic level, both stories are rather gruesome tales. However, when one reads beyond the words and sees the symbolism, the real story….....

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