Music and Connie

Throughout the ages, music has been an important part of life. From the chants set to drums in prehistoric times, to the gyrating beats of modern day rock, music has influenced people in countless ways. In Joyce Carol Oates's short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” we see many references to music. From the beginning, the story is written in a way to suggest musical lyrics. Also, Connie, the main character, uses music to escape from her daily life.

Music and the suggestion of musical lyrics is seen in many places throughout the story. The first obvious situations when the narrator tells us about Connie and her friends hanging out at the drive0in restaurant. We read, “They sat at the counter and crossed their legs at the ankles, their thin shoulders rigid with excitement, and listened to the music that made everything so good: the music was always in the background, like music at a church service; it was something to depend on” (150). Connie depends on music to set her mood. Without it, she would not be as excited about what was going on around her.

We see another important reference to music when Connie leaves to return home. The narrator says, “[...] Connie couldn't help but look back at the darkened shopping plaza with its big empty parking lot and its signs that were faded and ghostly now, and over at the drive-in restaurant where cars where still circling tirelessly. She couldn't hear the music at this distance” (150). This passage suggests that Connie is returning to boredom, and leaving not only all the music, but fun and excitement that music carries with it in her eyes.

Connie's fascination with music is evidenced when we come to the passage in which she is sunning herself and day-dreaming about being intimate with boys. We read, “[...] how nice he had been, how sweet it always was,[...] sweet, gentle, the way it was in movies and promised in songs [...]” (151). Connie bases many of her emotions and experiences on ideas that come from the radio and in movies. This deepens our understanding of how much importance Connie places on music. To Connie, music (and movies) are the standard by which to set her experiences with boys and love. Realistically, most people know that music and movies portray a skewed image of how love is, but to Connie, the ideas she gets from them are the truth.

We also see the importance Connie places on music when Arnold Friend arrives at her home. The narrator tells us, “He lifted his friend's arm and showed her the little transistor radio the boy was holding, and now Connie began to hear the music. It was the same program that was playing inside the house” (152). Connie is (at first) put at ease because the boys that arrived so suddenly have the same music playing that she is listening to. When something unexpected happens, many people look for similarities to what they know well. With music playing that is familiar to her, Connie is more relaxed (at first) than if the boys were not playing any music, or music that is different that something Connie would like.

Connie's need for music finally becomes evident further along in the story. In the part of the story when she is trying to decide whether or not to go with Arnold, and is becoming scared of him, we read “Connie let the screen door close and stood perfectly still inside it, listening to the music form her radio and the boy's blend together” (154). Connie is allowing the music from both places to soothe her and to reassure herself that everything is fine. By allowing this to happen, she is almost giving herself up to Arnold because of the music. If music weren't so important to her, it is likely she would not be as comfortable as she is in that situation.

We also see music suggested in Oates's story in a different way. Oates's style of writing in this particular piece is very indicative of musical lyrics. The lyrical way the story is written