Ready Reference Treatise: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

By Raja Sharma

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates was first published in 1996. It is believed to be most widely read and anthologized story written by Oates.

The story was first published in the journal Epoch. It was later republished in the collection of short stories “The Wheel of Love” in the year 1970.

Even today, the story is highly popular and reader favorite. Most of the critics past and present have admired this remarkable story.

According to literary scholar G. F. Waller, it is one of the masterpieces of the short story genre. The story was adapted into a movie title “Smooth Talk” in 1986 by director Joyce Chopra.

Ready Reference Treatise: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Complete Summary
Chapter Five: Critical Commentary
Chapter Six: Critical Analysis

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Aug 3, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310241895

Raja Sharma

Raja Sharma is a retired college lecturer.He has taught English Literature to University students for more than two decades.His students are scattered all over the world, and it is noticeable that he is in contact with more than ninety thousand of his students.

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Ready Reference Treatise: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Copyright

Ready Reference Treatise: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Raja Sharma

Copyright@2015 Raja Sharma

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Chapter One: Introduction

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates was first published in 1996. It is believed to be most widely read and anthologized story written by Oates.

The story was first published in the journal Epoch. It was later republished in the collection of short stories The Wheel of Love in the year 1970.

Even today, the story is highly popular and reader favorite. Most of the critics past and present have admired this remarkable story.

According to literary scholar G. F. Waller, it is one of the masterpieces of the short story genre. The story was adapted into a movie title Smooth Talk in 1986 by director Joyce Chopra.

During an interview in the year 1982, the author admitted that ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ has always been one of her favorite stories.

The story revolves around two major characters, Arnold Friend and Connie. Arnold is an older man who visits Connie’s house in the grab of a teenager.

Connie is a fifteen years old girl. She is on the verge of her adulthood. The older man tries to convince her to come for a ride in his golden car. Connie refuses to go with him.

Arnold suddenly becomes aggressive. He begins to threaten her to make her agree with his wishes. Throughout the story the nature of Arnold’s identity remains ambiguous. He encourages critical speculations on a broader scale.

Generally, the villain of the story is interpreted as the devil or death in disguise. Most of the critics and readers accept this interpretation.

In this story the author investigates the cultural turmoil that was prevalent in the mid century America.

Independence, will, and identity are some of the major themes that the author explores extensively through this story.

The author is said to have been