History Behind “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

Oates sets this story in a specific time, the 1960’s, which was in the middle of a social revolution. American women were becoming more outspoken about their role in society; claiming physical and sexual independence back from men. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Oates sets to put into perspective the transition into adulthood for a girl in the 60's.

During the mid 1960’s, a young man in Tucson, Arizona developed a reputation as “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Charles Schmid was short, causing him to stuff his boots. He had dyed black hair, makeup, and a fake mole on his lip. Charles was a by no means a physically attractive man at the time, but it was his charisma and charm that made him attractive. Schmid was the son of wealthy parents, and he would use his wealthy to entrap unsuspecting teenagers. Schmid would end up killing 3 people, and burying them in the desert before being caught. In March of 1966, Oates saw the article Life Magazine had written about Schmid, and didn’t even finish the article before letting her imagination tell the rest of the story. Despite the serial killers vibes Arnold gives off, her story was not meant to be a factual recount of the killings of Schmid.

Joyce Carol Oates dedicated “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” to Bob Dylan because of his influence on his song “It’s all over now Baby Blue. Oates’ character “Arnold Friend” physically resembles a young Bob Dylan with matted hair, short stature. In the 60’s, Dylan had a mysterious, almost messiah like perception given to him like we see in Arnold Friend. Arnold is perceived as a darker version of this type of person.