Joyce Carol Oates is noted for her ability to create stories with terror and also known for the descriptive violence in her portrayals of America life. Oates wrote in many types of forms, but most of her books have strong elements of naturalism, a literary style emphasizing an objective presentation of life. Gothic elements, emphasizing the mysterious and horrifying aspects of life, also appear frequently in Oates's writing. For example, violence, often male and sexual, consistently plays an important role in the lives of her characters (Creighton 26). In story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" there are two main characters, Arnold Friend and Connie; who he shows us his evil shocking intentions by all his actions towards the innocent Connie in the story.
In the story "Where are you going, where have you been?" Connie is a restless and sometimes emotionally troubled girl who is anxious to experience sexual contact for the first time. When Connie and her friends dress up to go out one weekend and talk to boys, she meets an older boy named Arnold Friend. He makes a point of talking to Connie and claims to be about her age, though he looks much older. But that was not until he arrives at her house. Not knowing how to get rid of Friend and his creepy, silent partner, Connie gets to know him instead. This creep tries to get advantage of Connie knowing that she is a lot younger than he is with no experience like the one he has. He doesn't stop the whole situation that makes her uncomfortable until she finally gives in and goes with him. According to Creighton, Oates brings Connie into a dream state and Arnold is mostly a part of her unconscious (147). Any girl like her enjoys the serenity, when she stops to think about her future that she is dreaming and how exactly it will happen. But somehow Arnold is willing to destroy her innocence in a scary way.
Arnold Friend is based on a real life serial killer rapist who was very short.