Charles Schmid Killings

Author, Joyce Carol Oates, of Where are you Going, Where have you Been alludes to four particular historical references within the story. Each reference provides significance to the story’s context. When the story is read with an approach, the reader will then have a better understanding. It is argued that the myth Death of a Maiden, the crime narrative Charles Schmid, the 1960’s values of Bob Dylan, and Sigmund Freud’s philosophy of the dream sequence and the most important approach to the story. The story, which is described as a mystery and crime narrative, reflects the killing of Charles Schmid. A murder from Tuscan, Arizona, during the 1960’s, Oates bases her story off these killings. In this essay I will argue that the most eminent approach

Schmid’s motive for murder was that he had always wanted to know what it felt like to kill. On May 31, 1964, Allen Rowe was raped, killed and buried in the desert. The detail of Arnold’s and Schmid’s crime are parallel. For example, both Connie and Alleen Rowe were 15 at the time of their assaults. Schmid was 21 when he killed Rowe, Arnold is seemingly older than Connie, “he wasn't a kid, he was much older- thirty, maybe more” (5). In addition, both the victims were alone at their home the night of their assaults. The night of Connie’s assault, was the first time her and Arnold had met. Seeking out Connie after Arnold had “put [his] sign in the air,” reflects how Schmid choose Rowe to be his first victim (5). Arnold’s strategy is to talk, first about music and the car, then he asks Connie if she “wanta go for a ride” (3). One the night Rowe was murdered, Rowe was asked the same question. In both cases, no force is necessary to kidnap the victim. Connie goes with Arnold under fear, she is under his control with just his words. Furthermore, the friend in Arnold’s car, Ellie, resembles Schmid’s girlfriend, who as the murder took place remained in the car listening to the radio. In addition, the criminal acts start in both cases when both the girls step into the men’s gold color cars. The rape of Rowe and Arnold’s intentions are parallel: “Yes I am your lover […] I’ll come inside you where its all secret and you'll give in to me and you'll love me” (6). The murder of Alleen Rowe corresponds with the assaults against Connie. It is the best to read the story with the approach of Charles Schmidt because the criminal acts reflect each other. Reading the story with this view will close the open ended ending, as we can assume that Connie will be murdered. Oates makes details throughout the story that both Schmid and Arnold had done in their cynical