The Past Possesses The Future In "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"

HOW THE PAST POSSESSES THE PRESENT IN

“WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN”

by Joyce Carol Oates

           Watching the movie "Smooth Talk" was like (yes, I said like)   climbing into the proverbial time machine.  I was immediately catapulted back to my high school days – the same notorious ‘80s of the movie.  The experience of a teenage girl is perfectly captured: the sexual awakening,  the angst, the curiosity, the fear, the belief in youthful immortality, the superior attitude towards one’s parents, the casual lies, the yearning to belong- --yet the need to be independent, the quest for excitement, the need for boundaries, and the inevitably of jumping too far and ultimately being grateful for the safety net of your parents –which both saves and smothers you.    

                Even though I am 50 years old, when I hear music from my youth (big hair bands) or watch a movie from that era, 35 years evaporate and I am in the “timeless space” of my youth.  Emotions that have lain dormant for decades are evoked.  I am often curious about this sensation of time travel and wonder what is occurring biologically, chemically, and on a quantum level as I am transported back.   Are the same factors creating the timelessness of the myth and fairy tale?   Is genetic memory being activated?  A longing of our very soul?  The remnant of our past lives?  

Whatever it is and however it is accomplished, these triggers that were born at the dawn of humanity continue just as powerfully today.  Myths and legends are replete with gods' and goddesses' sexual desires.  Since "Eve," humans have exalted and succumbed to the heat of their passions.   From the first oral stories to the shelves of contemporary erotica, sexual awakenings are a consistent theme.   

 "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been" summons the ancient story of Adam and Eve.  The mythology of the Garden of Eden introduces us to the original trio:  Adam, Eve, and the Serpent.  (Connie's father, like Adam, was fairly oblivious to the great emotional turmoil existing in his home.)

The dewy fruit glinted in the sunlight, beckoning Eve to taste its sweetness.  All she needed was a slight nudge, a gentle hand wrapped around hers as she plucked the succulent pome.  The beautiful, seductive Serpent offered Knowledge, Truth, and Answers.  His soft coaxing teased and coerced Eve into succumbing to her deepest desire to “KNOW what the Forbidden Fruit offered.”   Eve was curious enough to be convinced by the Serpent that he could lead her to the consummate experience. Although Eve had boundaries established by her “Father,” the desperate NEED to experience what Life had to offer and to “be like God” made the risk worth taking.   

Connie, having sipped at the exquisite fountain of sexual awakening, was both intrigued and frightened by the desires driving her to risky behavior.  At first, she just “looked at the fruit” at the drive in restaurant, then she caressed the fruit but refused to actually bite.  But, curiosity and the need to KNOW (in the Biblical sense) made Connie susceptible to the smooth talking gentleman who promised her a special experience.   Her parents’ boundaries faded from sight as the attentions of an older man appealed to Connie’s fragile ego and burgeoning sexuality.  Carefully, craftily, Arnold offered the fruit of Knowledge to Connie.  Unable to resist, she “watched herself” move into the sunlight where the Serpent awaited her.   

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” seems to be a reflection of the original story of sexuality found in Genesis.   It is also a mirror of the contemporary teenage girl’s transition into adulthood.  Every moment of every day, teenage girls struggle to emerge from their parent’s cocoon and escape as a beautiful butterfly as they seek the Knowledge and Wisdom life offers.    In many instances, for better or for worse, a seductive Serpent is the catalyst for the transition. 

On a personal note, although I feel Arnold was a creep, I don't believe the "Serpent" in the Garden was evil.  He, very truthfully, was offering Knowledge to Eve.  God was the liar in this story and begs the question why would God not want his "children" to Know the Truth of Good and Evil or eat from the Tree of Knowledge.  The only answer I have is that ignorant people are easier to control.  "Sheepeople" are desirable by "god" because he can lead his "flock" the way he wants without having to answer pesky questions.  
In ancient Sumeria, the Serpent was not considered evil, and was the symbol for Knowledge.  In the Sumerian texts, the Serpent was the symbol for Enki, the god of science and medicine.  Enki is credited for creating "The Adama."  He is also credited with saving Noah.  Sexually, Enki had "relations" with wife, daughter, graddaughter, niece, grand-niece, and Eve (which resulted in Cain).  The ancient Sumerian texts referred to offspring as being 2/3 their mother ----  a genetic reference to the fact that only the mother' passes the mitochondrial DNA to their children (a fact modern scientists have only recently discovered).  Enki's knowledge of DNA combined with his serpent icon, led to the medical caduceus still used today.

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