3. Note the epigraph at the beginning of the story: "To Bob Dylan" ; why does Oates dedicate the story to this "sixties" musician? On a broader scale, what role does music play in the story?

Joyce Carol Oates says that her story was inspired by Dylan's song “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue.” The lyrics and haunting tone to Dylan's song echo the story in many ways. Consider these lines of the song,

“The vagabond who’s rapping at your door / Is standing in the clothes that you once wore / Strike another match, go start anew / And it’s all over now, Baby Blue.”

The sixties were a time of taking chances and exploring freedom especially for young women exploring their sexuality. Dylan is said to mirror the character of Arnold .