Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

One of the ultimate goals for teenagers is to become independent individuals. The need for independence comes from the desire to have maturity and freedom. In many cases, this need for independence is the stereotyped idea of adulthood; to do what you want, when you want, and how you want. In the short text “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, Oates distinguishes the difference between fantasy and reality of a young girls mind who demands her independence perhaps too fast. Connie exhibits two personalities in this short story. The way portrayed herself with her friends and with her family are two different personalities. When at home, Connie’s mother complains about Connie and implies that she is

Connie’s desire for attraction from an older man is altered when she realizes this man’s intentions are not respectable. When Arnold shows up at her house, she no longer felt desire but fear instead and immediately feels dizzy. Oates uses dizziness to portray Connie’s internal conflict. There’s the side of her that craves the attention of an older man but when she realizes this isn’t like her daydreams, she becomes alarmed and feels faint. The realization makes her more vulnerable and causes her to give in to the man’s demands. Throughout the entire text, there’s been confusion between fantasy vs. reality. Although Connie works hard to present the appearance of being a mature woman who is experienced with men, her encounter with Arnold reveals that this is only a performance. When confronted upfront, her mature, adult persona is diminished as calls for her mother’s help. Although Connie does experiment with sexuality, such as when she goes into the alley with Eddie, she is afraid of becoming an adult. When Arnold Friend figuratively takes her by force into adulthood, she resists and proves to herself that she is not ready for