Talk:Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?/Archive 1

Code
THe article writes that there is no code that adds up to 69 in the story, but there is a code that says 33, 19, 17, which is a verse from the bible. However, the numbers 33, 19, and 17 DO add up to 69...

This article also lists Arnold Friend as the main protagonist of the story when it would seem more likely that he is that antagonist and that Connie is the protagonist.

Arnold Friend and Connie
This story has often reminded me of the Greek myth in which Hades, the god of death, abducts Demeter's daughter Persephone. I've always interpreted the ending as stongly suggesting that Connie is killed. I've often found it intriguing that the death figure in the story seems to represent the excititng world outside the bored young girl's sheltered home, and is as seductive and fascinating as he is frightening. This suggests to me that the life, which the young girl's maturing body and psyche draw her to, contains also the seed of her death, the natural conclusion of that life.

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"Arnold Friend" can be seen as "Our old friend", the eternal nemisis, the Devil. dagnabbitt —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.150.100.249 (talk) 20:06, 10 October 2007 (UTC)

Five Major Themes
Most of those aren't even themes, they are instances of symbolism...

Remove them and just state that the core theme of this Short Story is "coming of age and it's problems".

ALSO Arnold Friend is CLEARLY the Antagonist, because the story focuses on Connie (and we are given access to her thoughts). So if Connie is the protagonist, then Arnold who threatens her is DEFINITELY the Antagonist. As an earlier poster said "This article also lists Arnold Friend as the main protagonist of the story when it would seem more likely that he is that antagonist and that Connie is the protagonist."

^^^ YES!! 24.118.43.47 (talk) 05:09, 2 November 2009 (UTC)

An Old Fiend
"If you remove the R's from arnold friend you get An Old Fiend, which means the devil." If someone finds me a citation from the author or from any notable critic which suggests this, I will not object to putting it back into the article. As it stands, I'm removing it, because it's idiotic. One does not say "There is a hidden code in the story if you arbitrarily remove instances of one particular letter." Besides, if you remove the N's from arnold friend, you get "A Fried Lord," which means that you should take the Eucharist out of the deep-fat, as it's ready to be served. 169.231.41.108 (talk) 04:30, 12 November 2009 (UTC)