Regarding the short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", answer the following questions in paragraph form (one from each group), and in such a way that someone stumbling upon your blog could figure out what you're writing about. Also print your work out and bring it to class on Thursday.

Group 1

3. Who is the story's main character, Connie or Arnold Friend?

Arnold Friend is the main character in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?". Although it may seem like Connie is the main character because she is the protagonist, when it is looked into further, it makes much more sense that Arnold is the main character. After reading about the Charles Schmidt trial it’s very easy to see that this story is based on him, and what he did. Having said this, because the story is based around Charles Schmidt (or “Arnold Friend”) he becomes the main character. Connie is an important part of the story, but she is just a naïve girl. It could be any girl who Arnold chooses to become infatuated with. The specific girl isn’t important; it’s the character of Arnold and his psychopath personality.

Group 2

2. Who is Arnold Friend? Do you think he is appropriately named? What is the significance of his car? His clothing? His language?

Arnold Friend is a convicted murderer and rapist named Charles Schmidt. If you question this fact, read articles about Charles Schmidt and his trial and you will definitely become convinced that the character of Arnold is completely paralleled to Schmidt. He is a creepy stalker who is obsessed with young girls, and is mentally unstable. Naming Charles Schmidt Arnold Friend is very appropriate. Abbreviated his name becomes A. Friend, and that’s what he pretends to be to Connie. He acts normal about the fact that he is basically kidnapping her and tries to convince her that he wants to be her friend. His car signifies him being older than her and having a way out, where, as she is upset because she is stuck. It makes it somewhat appealing for her to go with him. His clothing makes him not a typical stalker or murderer. He tries to dress like everyone else, and therefore Connie doesn’t initially see him as a predator. The way he speaks is the most important. He’s very persuasive, and can make Connie do whatever he wants. He is very smooth when he speaks, and rarely changes his emotion.

Group 3

3. Where does Arnold take Connie, and what happens to her? Write your own continuation of the story.

Arnold takes Connie to a field and rapes her. He tells her that he is taking her here. He thinks that he is making a beautiful setting for them to “make love”, but as his version of the situation is altered by his psycho personality. She subjects to being raped to save her family. When Connie leaves the house Arnold will drive them to a field just like he said. Ellie will stay in the car, and Arnold will tell her to get out of the car, and then start to rape her. She will not fight back because she is worried for her family.

Group 4

2. Describe important images that you see in the story and what they do to create meaning within the story.

The most important image seen in the story is young, naïve girls. The story almost portrays it as Connie’s fault that she is so high on life and doesn’t realize that dressing and acting the way she does makes her a target for predators like Arnold. This meaning is that it’s not always smart to live as high on life, and naïve as Connie was. Another image evident in the story is the act of a man persuading women. Arnold successfully convinces Connie to leave with him, even though she knew it was a horrible idea. The idea of women being submissive to men ties into this idea. It touches on the fact that men prove to have an upper hand in the relationship between a man and a woman.