Where are you going, where have you been? is a short story by American writer Joyce Carol Oates. The plot revolves around 15-year-old girl Connie and a man named Arnold Fiend. Practically the entire storyline concerns Arnold’s trying to convince Connie to leave her house and come for a ride with him and his friend (Oates, 1993). His words and behavior leave no doubt about his dangerous intentions. At the end of the story, the protagonist suffers a complete breakdown and steps outside the house, and the rest of Connie’s fate is untold. An open end in literature refers to the lack of clear-cut conclusion to the story. The open-ended nature of the story serves the purpose of inflicting both horror and hope on the reader.
A story with an open ending allows a reader to draw their own conclusions on the subject of the character’s future and the meaning of the plot. It given the reader an incentive to explore and analyze the work more thoroughly. The fact that the reader does not receive closure in this specific case amplifies the horror of the described situation. It is unknown whether Connie survives the encounter and, if she does, what consequences she suffers. By making people ponder these questions, the writer allows the story to linger with the reader substantially longer than it would have otherwise. On the other hand, it gives those who read it hope. One can imagine an ending where Connie’s parents return home early or a neighbor intervenes in the plight. A reader can even imagine Connie overcoming her helpless condition and fighting back, making a narrative about human’s ability to fall down and raise themselves again.
In conclusion, Where are you going, where have you been? is a story with an open ending which serves to inspire a reader to create their own narratives. On the one hand, it inspires lasting fear for Connie and her well-being. On the other hand, it gives people an opportunity to hope for her to come back to herself, fight back, and recover from this experience.
Reference
Oates, J. C. (1993). Where are you going, where have you been? Ontario Review Press.