Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been theme of evil?
In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Joyce Carol Oates uses the metaphor of music as an agent of evil to convey the theme that American society is superficial and corrupt. Music initially is a false idol that Connie clings to, and a seductive force that endows the silly and meaningless with meaning.
Does Connie get raped in where are you going?
These violent, explicit lines strongly suggest that Arnold has entered the house and is raping Connie—the “stabbing” and “no tenderness,” as well as her extreme distress, all suggest that this violent moment is a rape. However, Oates does not state explicitly that Arnold has raped Connie.
What is the thesis of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Thesis: ”Where are you going, where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism to portray youths’ desire for independence but overall gullibility to life’s illusions. Arnold friend himself is symbolic of the evil that lurks hidden with the world.
What is the significance of the title of the story What does Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been tell us about good and evil?
The allusion parallels Connie’s decision to sacrifice herself so that Arnold Friend will not harm her family. The title also points to the strained relationship between Connie and her parents, who nag her about her behavior but do not question her actions.
What do the numbers 33 19 17 represent?
What do the numbers written on Arnold Friend’s car (33, 19, and 17) signify in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” The numbers written on Arnold Friend’s car in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” possibly refer to Jesus, perhaps signifying that Friend is a sort of Antichrist.
What do the flies symbolize in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Fly Symbolism in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Flies are often used as symbols of corruption and evil. They often foreshadow something bad is about to occur. Flies are often associated with evil in horror films, as well.
What is the significance of the title Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
What is the meaning of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
It was inspired by three Tucson, Arizona murders committed by Charles Schmid, which were profiled in Life magazine in an article written by Don Moser on March 4, 1966. 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”.
Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been explained?
It was inspired by three Tucson, Arizona murders committed by Charles Schmid, which were profiled in Life magazine in an article written by Don Moser on March 4, 1966. 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.
What do the numbers 33 19 17 mean?
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. Harold Hurley posits that the numbers carry a sexual connotations because when added together they equal 69, a sexual position.
Who are the main characters in where are you going, where have you been?
The two central characters of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Connie and Arnold Friend, have ambiguous identities. Oates writes of Connie, “everything about her had two sides to it” (1). Connie inhabits different personas depending on the context she finds herself in; at home she is one person, with her friends she is another.
What happens to Connie in where are you going, where have you been?
Connie’s search for independence has a brutal outcome. When Arnold Friend arrives and interacts with her as the mature woman she has pretended to be, he yanks her out of her childhood adventures and places her firmly into an adult world from which no one will rescue her.
Where does Joyce Carol Oates set her story?
The very common, unassuming nature of her surroundings lets readers imagine the story could happen anywhere. At first glance, Joyce Carol Oates’ story may seem free of political context, yet its setting in mid-century suburban America speaks to a wider understanding.