The plot of the book Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been written by Joyce Carol Oates, was inspired by the real situation that occurred in Arizona. It was a series of crimes committed by Charles Schmidt. The protagonist of the book is a fifteen-year-old girl called Connie (Oates 24). She is an ego-centric personality who prefers to do what she wants regardless of the consequences. It is crucial to mention that she has complicated relationships with her parents, especially with her mother. She spends her evening in the restaurant Big Boy with different men and boys (Oates 56). Her parents decide to visit her aunt, and she rests at home alone. The car stops in front of her door, and she has a conversation with a driver – a charismatic man, one of the visitors of the restaurant. He claims that he is 18 years old, but Connie understands that he is much older.
The girl does not want to sit in the car of the stranger; however, Arnold Friend, the driver, insists on spending time together. When the girl refuses, he becomes rude and even violent; he threatens the teenager (Oates 112). The girl understands that it is, probably, the last day of her life. She feels sorry for never seeing her family again and for treating them that way. During the final scene, Connie examines the environment around her. She sees an overgrown field without any houses or buildings. She has the feeling that it will be the last place that she would visit. It is essential to highlight that the story does not have a concrete ending, and it is impossible to predict what would happen after. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the fact that the story was inspired by the crimes committed in the region, it is possible to suggest that Friend is going to kill Connie. However, the author does not give a particular answer to this question.
It can be observed that the plot has many specific details that should not be underestimated. For example, it is crucial to mention Connie’s attention to her appearance. She spends many hours in front of the mirror, one of the most common reasons for quarrels between mother and daughter. The relationships with the sister also have to be taken into account: Connie’s sibling is introduced as the character, absolutely opposite to the main hero. On the one hand, it is an essential part of the plot as the difference between the two girls highlights the behavior patterns and specific traits of the character of Connie. On the other hand, it shows the attitude of the main protagonist towards other people that are not similar to her. She behaves in a cruel and intolerant way that shows her own imperfections.
Connie thinks that it would be better if her relatives die, and she could organize her life in the way she prefers. At the same time, an important detail is that the elder sister of Connie is allowed to see her best friend. It is the reason why the teenager also has a chance to go with her mate to the city center. Instead of spending time there, the two friends go over the road and get acquainted with the boys in the nearest restaurant. Another significant detail is the code written on the car that Friend shows Connie. Some researchers claim that it may be the reference to the Bible; others support the idea that it is the key to the real age of the man and his sexual deviation.
Work Cited
Oates, Joyce Carol. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been. Rutgers University Press, 1994.