Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, is one of Joyce Carol Oates best short stories. Oates shows the reader what it is like to take things for granted and make mistakes through the main character, Connie. Throughout this story, Connie finds her identity and grows as a woman. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates shows us the struggle of a young woman dealing with her family, sexuality, and common mistakes that can be made when growing up. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, starts off with Connie and her mother. Connie is a typical teenage girl, and acts that way towards her family. Connie is always checking out how she looks in mirrors or through other people. She cares a great amount about her appearance and what people think of her. Connie lives with her mother, father, and older sister June. June is the favorite child as she is very successful and helps out the family financially and mentally. June has the exact opposite personality of Connie, making her the favorite of their mother. Connie struggles with getting along with her family, as many young women or tennagers
If you don’t know where you are going or where you have been, any road will take you there. Connie fought with herself throughout the entire story on her appearance, what her family thought of her, and what others thought of her. She took certain things for granted and made mistakes because she was so young and carefree. At the very end, Connie realizes that she many never see her mother or her family again. At that point we realize the struggles that Connie has been through in trying to grow as a woman. But we also learn that mistakes are going to be made when growing up, it’s how you learn from those mistakes and become better that really