Analysis Of Joyce Carol Oates 'Short Story Where Are You Going?'

It is almost disheartening to watch a child’s loss of innocence as it grows into adolescence. To know this is to observe as a child discovers that Santa Claus and the Easter bunny aren’t real, or for a parent to watch as their son or daughter make life changing decisions. Decisions like which colleges to go to, or to decide to marry their high school sweet heart. A teenager’s loss of innocence is the focal point of Joyce Carol Oates short story “Where are you going? Where have you been?” featuring the main protagonist, Connie. Connie is forced to face the ordeal of becoming an adult at the age of fifteen in a matter of minutes. She spurns her parents in an effort to be rebellious, she goes out at night with her friends in search of young
He appears to be thirty years old or more, but he attempts to seduce Connie with his shiny car and his rugged appearance to go with him for a “ride”. She resists him but he refuses to take no for an answer. His persistence begins to frighten her and she retreats into the house. He gives her the option of going with him, or staying in the house and calling the police which if she did, then he would go in the house to get her. She becomes so terrified that she can’t even call for help. Once the wave of fear passes over her, she is left only as an empty emotionless shell. She walks to the door to see Arnold Friend’s arms outstretched, and she capitulates and goes to him. The situation Connie was in conveys Oates’ idea that adolescent loss of innocence can be displayed by making life changing decisions. Connie is confronted by what many would consider an evil force. She repels his advances, but she realizes that she isn’t strong enough to hold him off forever. So she gives in to evil’s temptations and her life will ultimately be changed forever, of which the result is something we’ll never