When one looks at this title there is no doubt that it is an eyecatcher and that it must suggest some good points on a story. Connie, in Joyce Carol Oats' Where Are You Going, Where Have You been?, imagines that Arnold friend comes over to get her. Although Arnold Friend seems to be real to the reader and to Connie, he, his friend, and his car are all just imaginary in one of Connie's daydreams. There are many instances in the story that suggest this as well.

Connie is a young girl of fifteen who is sexually active and doesn't seem to care much for any of her family. She is almost self-centered by the way she gawks at herself, knowing that she is pretty (p.702). Throughout the story we find out that she is a daydreamer, who seems to worship the music she listens to. The part of the story that tells us that Arnold Friend's visit is imaginary is when she leaves her sun-bathing moment in the backyard to go inside for a while. She turns on the radio and listens to the music for an hour and a half (p.704) At this point she falls asleep because a girl that daydreams all the time would fall asleep to the music. From this point on everything about Arnold Friend and all of the little e

There begins an awkwardness when Arnold shows up and Connie stands in the doorway she notices that the other boy in the golden car "hadn't even bothered to glance at her." (Lit. 705) As a matter of fact, we cannot tell for sure wether or not he takes notice of her or of what is happening because one cannot tell which direction the eyes are pointing through sunglasses. But in anycase, he sets the oddness for the dream just by being in his own little world.

The ending is what makes the whole thing seem so dreamy. Connie suddenly shudders and just gives in to Arnold's ways. What makes everything seem so weird is the change of setting. When Connie was in the yard laying under the sun with her eyes closed dreaming of boys, there was a fence-like line of trees surrounding her. This is replaced by " the vast sunlit reaches of the land". This further creates a definite meaning of Connie's imagination. Just the same for dreams, the scene changes unexpectedly and unnoticed.

Even though Connie always thinks about herself, in the end she thinks about her mother and the dishes, and the things she should have done. This is reality coming into play. This is her realization setting in as she finds out the truth about herself.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Arnold Friend's, Arnold Connie, Arnold Friend, Ellie Arnold, Horny Daydreamer, Oats' Where, lit 708, arnold friend, inside radio, arnold friend's,
Approximate Word count = 831
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)