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

In Joyce Carol Oates’ short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, the reader is immediately introduced to the main character, Connie; a young girl who obsesses over herself and puts little value on her family or loved ones. Throughout the story readers are also introduced to a man named Arnold Friend. Oates uses this character to reveal to readers the true psychological flaws that Connie and himself possess. Connie’s flaws are most likely a result of family issues and the lack of a male figure in her life and lead her in the wrong direction when she is faced with a potentially dangerous situation while Arnold’s psychological issues come from unknown sources. Throughout the story Oates’ reveals the psyche development of both

She has a harsh personality and severely judges people based on their appearances. This is made obvious to readers when Oates writes, “Her name was Connie. She was fifteen and she had a 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” (Oates). From this quote readers are able to directly identify that one of Connie’s psychological issues deals with her self esteem or self image. It is clear that Connie has some type of psychological issue that fuels her self obsession. This self obsession most likely stems from family issues and the fact that she is treated poorly by her family. It is made obvious to the reader that Connie is treated poorly when her mother states, "Why don't you keep your room clean like your sister? How've you got your hair fixed—what the hell stinks? Hairspray? You don't see your sister using that junk,” (Oates). This type of treatment harms Connie’s psychological development and forces her to search for attention elsewhere. Her underdeveloped psyche is also most likely a result of her poor relationship with her

When Oates first introduces Connie's father, she writes “Their father was away at work most of the time and when he came home, he wanted supper and he read the newspaper at supper and after supper he went to bed. He didn't bother talking much to them, but around his bent head Connie’s mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over” (Oates). This quote reveals two things to the reader; Connie has severe issues with the way her mother treats her and Connie does not have a well developed relationship with her father. The fact that Connie lacks a relationship with her father is the reason why she looks for attention from another male source which happens to be older boys that she randomly meets upon her nights out. Because of the poor relationship Connie has with her father she does not value herself or the way men treat her. This is made obvious to readers when Oates writes, “She spent three hours with him, at the restaurant where they ate hamburgers and drank Cokes in wax cups that were always sweating, and then down an alley a mile or so away, and when he left her off at five to eleven only the movie house was still open at the plaza,” (Oates). Connie goes on outings with these boys and tends to focus completely on what they want and puts very little value on her own wants or needs when it comes to men. This shows readers