I was researching the title of "Where are you going, where have you been?" and I found an analysis of the story that explains the use of the numbers 33 19 17 and how this relates to the title:
"This code of numbers, 33 19 17, is the most illustrative example of Oates’s use of religion in this story. As Mark Robson points out in “Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?””, this sequence of numbers has biblical significance. Robson points out that counting backwards from the end of the bible yields Judges as the 33rd book, wherein chapter 19 verse 17 reflects the title of the short story itself (Robson 230).
The passage reads “And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?”(Jud 19.17). Furthermore, Robson indicates that if numerical values are assigned to each letter, the book of Genesis is the only book whose letters total 33(Robson 230) which, if combined with the same chapter and verse(19:17) contains a warning from God before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah for over-indulgence.
To point out further intriguing occurrences, using the same numerical valuation system above, Robson indicates that “’Connie’ ads up to 33, while “loves” is 19, and “God” is 17” (Robson 230). Additionally, averaging the values created by applying this system to the words “Arnold” and “friend” yields the number 33. This eerie code sets the stage for what Arnold has in mind."
http://bookstove.com/drama/where-are-you-going-where-have-you-been-by-joyce-carol-oates/
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1 comment:
Wow! This is really interesting. I think that this is probably an excellent example of the way numbers can be manipulated to find meanings though. I doubt that Ms. Oates sat down and hashed out all this stuff, but maybe she did. I think that the fact that "the 33rd book of the Bible if you count from the back" is Judges makes this a little suspect. But it is cool.
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