Greek and Modern Story, Essay Example

‘Where are you going, Where have you been?,’ by Joyce Carol Oates is a novel set in turbulent times amidst a cultural, sexual, religious as well as politically revolutionary time in not only Americas history but also the wider world. What is fascinating is that it has some say dedicated to Bob Dylan. It has artistic similarities with his song, “It’s over now, baby blue,’ by Bob and the Greek myth, ‘The abduction of Persephone.’ The thematically similarities are almost exactly the same only expressed in different medium. Although Bob Dylan actually lived his song to the end by rejecting the music lifestyle and going back to a simpler life as he had advocated in the song.

The thematic similarity that jumps out at you is nostalgia. Bob Dylan’s song is especially a note to self or a memo of sorts. It pays homage in a lot of regards to the end of an era. In Oates’ book the Connie searches and ultimately finds the adulthood she was looking for though in a very violent manner. However in finding this new found adulthood and fantasy of independence it is a loss of innocence. She has lost this and it can never come back. “Is standing in the clothes that you once wore, Strike another match, go start a new, And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.” Bob Dylan’s last lines bring the two together.

Fantasy and reality is the theme between the Myth and the story. Connie work hard at being part of two worlds “. Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home.” Ellie is the anthropomorphic symbol of the devil while in the myth Hades is the culprit god of the underworld. The rape scene occurs in both stories. Though it is not explicitly stated it is implied. “ She cried out, she cried for her mother, she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it were something Arnold Friend was stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness.” This parallels well with the myth in that Persephone innocence is taken and both cried out for their mothers. Who they are who they become after the act is done is the Geek tragedy in all his.