Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

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Joyce Carol Oates’ short story Where are You Going Where Have You Been explores a teenage girl’s path of rebellion and loss of innocence. Through Connie's willingness to relinquish herself to others, Oates demonstrates that insecurity and fear can diminish one's dignity. 15 year-old Connie struggles to discover herself whilst living in her sister’s shadow, leading her to rebel for attention. The lack of intimacy from her parents in combination with constant comparison to her sister degrades Connie, leaving her insecure and vulnerable. Her risky behavior in pursuit of attention ultimately leads her to attract unwanted attention from a dangerous man named Arnold Friend. Connie reveals that throughout her life she has been constantly subjected …show more content…

June’s constant praisal is at the expense of Connie. As June’s self esteem is boosted from her family’s attention and admiration, Connie becomes increasingly insecure because of her inability to attain the same level of success as her sister. She seeks the same attention as her sister, yet has been conditioned to believe that she cannot match her sister’s accomplishments, leading Connie to rebel for attention. She feels as though her self worth rests solely on the opinions of others, because her relationship with her family has not provided her with any reassurance of her value. Consequently, Connie struggles with insecurities, as she always feels a need to meet the expectations of others. Arnold states, “‘What else is there for a girl like you but to be sweet and pretty and give in?’” Arnold Friend intends to objectify Connie, in an attempt to place her worth on her appearance. He suggests that as a girl, her only purpose in life is to live up to expectations of being “sweet” and

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