Where are you going, where have you been. - Fantasy vs Where are you going, where have you been? - Fantasy vs. reality - music - Arnold's car (symbol) By: Ashley Fuentes

Theme – fantasy vs. reality We all know, connie works hard to present the appearance of being a mature woman who is experienced with men, and her encounter with arnold reveals that this is only a fantasy. The complete thing between fantasy and reality is that its blurred by Arnold himself, whom never quite falls into one category or the other. His physical appearance makes him seem both human and less than human, and Oates never makes the absolute sure if whether he is reality or fantasy. 

Motif – Music Music was a good chunk piece of Connie's life. Connie enjoyed escaping her life by listening to music and daydreaming about boys, and she gathered her ideas about romance primarily from songs on the radio and from some she enjoyed. 

Symbol – Arnold’s Car Arnold Friend’s flashy gold car, with the phrases written on the sides, is a extension of Arnold himself extreme and not entirely right. The car gives Connie her first clues that there might be something wrong with or dangerous about Arnold.

Reflection