“Where Is Here?” as a contemporary Gothic ghost story
Outline
Thesis: Evidence spread throughout the entire story suggests that at least one character, the
mysterious stranger—who is apparently a victim of an abusive home—is a ghost.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
The setting
A. November, a bleak month
B. Stranger arrives, claiming to have lived in the house as a child
C. Unsettling situation for the current residents
D. Father invites him in nonetheless
E. Keep an eye on him while he walks around their yard
Use of dialogue
A. Author violates regular structure for dialogue in a story
B. Has more than one character speaking within the same paragraph
C. Hard to distinguish who is speaking
D. Seems as if the characters are blended together
E. A suggestion that they are all ghosts?
Visitor’s familiarity with the layout of the house
A. Recognizes the kitchen despite some subtle changes
1. Kitchen seems more modern
2. Plants seem to grow, whereas his mother’s did not
3. “so—pleasant”
B. Notices the basement door with apprehension
1. New owners do not want him to see it
2. Some childhood trauma in the basement?
C. The Master bedroom, which he does not want to see
Similarities between his family and the current family
A. Eleven-year-old son; thirteen-year-old daughter
B. Sat at the same places at dinner
C. Children in both families victims of abuse?
D. Visitor and current son having the same bedroom
Deceiving appearances
A. Parents not as loving and civil as they pretend to be?
B. Blame each other for inviting the stranger in
C. Blame themselves for allowing him so much freedom once he is inside
Increasing discomfort
A. Stranger asking questions about whether the parents love their children
B. Questions that force the parents to acknowledge the truth about themselves
C. A lack of love that could lead to abuse
Encounter between the visitor and the son
A. The visitor’s “ghostly and insubstantial” reflection in the window
B. Greets the boy with “avuncular formality”
C. The visitor’s purpose to offer advice to his younger self?
D. Cryptic messages
VIII.
IX.
1. The riddles about life, death, and infinity
2. The picture that represents infinity
3. Suggesting that the visitor (or all of them) exist in some infinite limbo?
After effects of the stranger’s visit
A. Lights outside and inside the house beginning to flicker
B. Carpet and wallpaper beginning to fade
C. Parents becoming more vocal and physical (revealing their true selves?)
1. Husband striking his wife
2. Wife developing a bruise (similar to bruises from her former life?)
Oates’ style and message
A. Writes the story using Gothic and horror elements
B. An indirect means of addressing a larger social issue of abuse?