Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
- Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is a frequently anthologized short story written by Joyce Carol Oates. 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 had been inspired to write it after listening to his song "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue."
The story was loosely adapted into the 1985 film "Smooth Talk", starring Laura Dern and Treat Williams.
Plot
The main character of Oates's story is Connie, a beautiful but somewhat irresponsible fifteen-year-old girl who chafes with her mother, herself once a beauty, and with her dutiful, "steady", and homely older sister. She spends most of her evenings picking up boys at a drive-in restaurant, and one evening captures the attention of a menacing stranger in a gold jalopy. While her parents are away at her aunt's barbecue, two men pull up in front of her house and call Connie out. She recognizes the driver, Arnold Friend, as the man from the drive-in restaurant, but is initially not particularly frightened of him. He tells Connie he is eighteen years old and has come to take her away. Connie slowly realizes that he is actually much older. As Connie refuses to go with him, he becomes more forceful and threatening until Connie is compelled to leave with him and do what he demands of her. The story ends as Connie leaves her front porch; her eventual is left ambiguous.
Themes
Arnold Friend is often read to represent the devil. His face is described as stretched and mask-like, and his boots stand at unnatural angles. One boot is actually bent at a right angle at the ankle, suggesting a false leg or possibly a cloven hoof. [ [http://prizedwriting.ucdavis.edu/past/1992-1993/martinez.html Prized Writing] ] (Charles Schmid wore unique boots that he elevated with materials he had stuffed into them.) [ [http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/predators/schmid/1b.html Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson -The Crime Library - Crime Library on truTV.com ] ]
References
Wikimedia Foundation.
2010.
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Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? — ( ¿Adónde vas, dónde has estado? ) es un cuento de Joyce Carol Oates, recogido en numerosas antologías. Oates se inspiró en tres asesinatos cometidos por Charles Schmid en Tucson, Arizona, que fueron narrados por Don Moser en un artículo… … Wikipedia Español
Where Are You Going — Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? ( ¿Adónde vas, dónde has estado? ) es un cuento de Joyce Carol Oates, recogido en numerosas antologías. Oates se inspiró en tres… … Wikipedia Español
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