"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

Joyce Carol Oates’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was possibly the most haunting story that I have read this semester. I was sufficiently unsettled by the story after reading it, and this only increased after discussing it in class. There were several aspects of the story that I did not immediately understand, such as the various allusions. However I think the most significant thing about the story was the ambiguity about the identity of Arnold Friend. 

The conversation between Connie and Arnold Friend was ominous from the beginning, and it quickly became obvious that Friend intended to have sex with Connie, with or without her consent. After discussing the story in class, I saw the numerous references that suggested Friend is the devil, and their conversation became even more disturbing. Details such as the strange way he walks, the fact that he knows everyone, and the pseudonym “An Old Fiend” support the theory that Friend is actually the devil in disguise, and after discussing them in class, I began to believe that this was Oates’s intention. 

Another frightening aspect of this story is that it was based off of events that actually occurred. While Oates’s did not take every detail from real life, she was inspired to write this story after hearing about a serial killer. This made the story all the more sinister, but also raised a conflict about the identity of Arnold Friend. Was he supposed to be a serial killer, or the devil himself? 

Although this question was never really answered, the purpose of the short story is clear. It is a symbolic story for the loss of morals that has accompanied younger generations. Oates seems to have written it as a appeal to society, urging everyone to live morally, or suffer the consequences. Also, it serves as a reminder that children should not try to be older before they have to be, for they are rarely ready for the responsibilities that come with age.