Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

Destination
An ordinary girl trapped by the critical decisions she has made, Connie has sent herself on a journey of misfortune and sorrow. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates gives an insight on real troubles faced in a teenage girl’s life. Connie represents many individuals suffering these unfortunate events. She is a self-doubting, insecure, fifteen year old, on the road to destruction. Her cliché acts such as the “quick, nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right” show that she is not as socially mature as she hopes to appear (199). Connie’s mother disapproves of the way she acts, “Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty?” is just one common phrase from Connie’s mother showing how critical she is of her behavior (199-200). From Connie’s point of view, she is constantly criticized by her family; however, she blames the criticism on their “jealousy” of her looks. She uses her appearance as a front to keep people from seeing the truth; that Connie is really just a young, confused girl, searching for her identity in all the wrong places. The most important person to know is oneself, yet Connie lacks just that. She knows and understands everyone around her better than herself and that is what causes

her the most harm.
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Throughout the story, we see a repeated idea of Connie’s obsession over the artificial parts of her existence. Her “long dark blonde hair that drew anyone’s eye to it” is just one feature that is emphasized in this story (200). When she goes out, she puts off a sexual allure about herself in order to win over the attention of the men around her. There are subtle hints throughout that Connie leads a double life. While at home, she is a different girl than when she goes out. “She wore a pull-over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at home and another way when she was away from home” is just one example from the text that she was not always dressed or acting as her true self (200). It is clear that Connie does not really know who she is. Her constant need of approval and external motivation show her weakness as an individual. Her mother worried about her and the activities she participated in. “She always drew thick clear lines between herself and such girls,” in reality, she was one of those girls (201). Connie’s dismissiveness of this shows her ignorance of the life she leads.
Connie may be the protagonist of this story, but she is also the creator of the antagonist of this story.

When the character Arnold Friend appears at her doorstep, beckoning her to take a ride, Connie at first appears calm and collected. She goes on in her flirtatious ways until things get to a place where she is no longer in control of the situation. The so-called sexual maturity she thought she had is no longer present. She is now a frightened little girl wishing she had her mother back. Throughout the beginning of this story, Oates makes it evident that Connie has a childish hatred for her family, in particular, her

mother.
When Connie describes the way her mother speaks, it is always negative when related to Connie and positive when related to her sister June. “If June’s name was mentioned her mother’s
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tone was approving, and if Connie’s name was mentioned it was disapproving” showing that there was an assumed tension between Connie and her mother to begin with (202). Though there is always a sense of aggravation between Connie and her mother, Connie still maintains the belief that she is the favorite because of her beauty. This only exemplifies her immaturity and human flaw of vanity. Though this hatred became so evident in the beginning, now that Arnold Friend is here, Connie wishes all of this away and wants her family to return to her. This character Arnold represents all the men of her past and decisions she has made. Connie has a repeated need for approval and that is why this character is seeking her out, she cannot help but be manipulated by him at this point in her life. Connie’s constant need of approval from external forces has brought her here and she now has no choice but to go on with Arnold and live the life she has chosen for herself. This situation is all too real for many girls today; they go on in life naïve of what evils are really out there and how their choices bring these evils to their doorstep. Their ignorance puts them into compromising situations without an escape route and this is what has happened to Connie.
Her evil was manifested by her own actions. Had she realized this sooner she may have been able to escape and return to a more pleasant life and found joys within her family and friends. Now even she knows there is no hope. As Arnold Friend said, “the place where you came from ain’t there anymore, and where you had in mind to go is cancelled out” (210). Connie’s boisterous behavior brought attention that she initially thought she desired, but now realized will be the end of her. Connie’s lack of knowledge about herself has brought on her destruction, she is truly just a young, confused girl in search of her identity. The identity that she has made for herself is now the end of her story.