Short Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

.sure her own [looks were] all right” (988), wanted to become independent and do things that not every girl her age does, faces a male who wants her, but she does not want him, she begins to become afraid. The story shows that Connie was not prepared for Arnold Friend’s despite her actions beforehand. Connie is the opposite of her sister, June. June is a goodie-to-shoes while Connie wants to be her own person. Her mother always nags on Connie saying that she should be like June who follows the rules and is a good role model.

The sneaking of macaroons put up with a result of Nora’s role as a child within the marriage. The macaroons show that Nora is not the perfect doll that Torvald tries to mold her into; nevertheless, she is not able to think of any other way where she can prove herself like her husband’s doll. Still, she tries to disguise her real personality and is constantly lying about many things. She hasn’t been taken seriously and treated with very less respect by her husband. Her lies are less a thought of her own character and more a reflection of her husband’s surroundings .She does feel the need to keep up her self –respect, while satisfying her own needs.

People live all their lives trying to chase dreams. Most people do and those are the risk takers they ones who aren 't afraid to try even if the future is uncertain. The ones who don 't try often look imagine how their life could have been if they had taken that risk. In the book Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton we see the main protagonist Ethan lack the courage to chase his dream and in the end pays the price for it. In the book he is dealing with inter conflicts between two women.

Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” leads the reader to believe both Connie and Arnold Friend battle with their identity. As Oates begins the story, she introduces Connie as “shallow and vapid” (Slimp); more obsessed with herself to notice the real world around her. Connie had a tendency to look “one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home” (Oates 1), showing the reader she was two sided. Connie’s need to change her identity based on her location can very much stem from a lack of self-confidence. This can also be seen with Arnold Friend.

In an article named “The Sting of Lack of Affection” written by Michele S. Berk and Susan M. Andersen states, “We may long for a display of affection from a parent or spouse or for positive feedback from a dear friend or colleague” (393). Connie may only be a teenager not old enough to be married or have a job, however, she wants her mom’s affection whether she realizes it or not. This leads her to seek affection from other people, which leaves her vulnerable when making contact with strangers especially men. The most important experiences to a person are the close relationships one has towards somebody (Michele S. Berk and Susan M. Andersen 393). If Connie had a healthy relationship with her mother she wouldn’t be making the bad decisions in wanting the attention from the opposite

Anne wants to have a nice and wonderful life, but she went into hiding so now she can't have as happy of a life like she was wanted to have. Also, in this quote it describes how she thought her life

Connie’s mom always criticizes her for being so egotistical and wants Connie to be more like her sister. Their father is always working and hardly makes any time for them. She likes hanging out with boys, but one night

The kind of love that is difficult and painful. One that does not always end in happy endings and can not always be attained. A bildungsroman is a genre that is about a character 's growth and understanding in life. Winterson allows the reader to go with Jeanette as she grows up and realizes how confusing and difficult love is to find and keep. Jeanette finds and loses many love interests, because sometimes even when someone wants something badly, it does not happen.

Another example is the letter addressed to the Crane family, “Didn’t you ever see an idiot child before? Some people just shouldn’t have children should they”? (4) This shows that she is envious of the family because they provide each other with company and they love each other, “ most infatuated young parents she had ever known”. Whereas Miss Strangeworth lives all alone. In short, these letters have proved that since she is jealous of her victims she tries to disrupt their way of living so she can feel superior.

Oates shows how Connie has two sides of herself. When she is around her friends, her appearance and attitude is different than when she is home with her family. She attracts the wrong men with her attitude. She is fearful to actually become an adult. Arnold may be a strange man or he may be a nightmare that she has day dreamed.

This is relevant to the theme because she is not allowed to express her real feelings so she tries to express the ounces of happiness she has. To conclude, sometimes life can be hard, but people have to make way for what they have.