The protagonist of the story is a young teenage girl named Connie. Connie is the youngest of her siblings. She is often compared to her older sister, June, by her mother. The mother often makes remarks on Connie’s attitude, and lack of ambition. Connie is told she is full of herself, since she often admires her physical appearance. Her father rarely makes an appearance throughout the short story. As a result, Connie often seeks the life and attention outside of her home. In “Where are you? Where have you been? Joyce Oates illustrates the effects Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs love and belonging.
Connie, and I both shared the feeling of being compared to another individual. “Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? How’ve you got your hair fixed? – what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk.” (389) In “Where are you? Where have you been?” Connies mom constantly harasses her with remarks about her appearance, and way of being. I myself have struggled with comparing myself to of my closest friends. Erin has always been very school oriented. She’s known she wanted to be a physical therapist since the first day of high school. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that I …show more content…
Where have you been”, and in The House at the end of the street, both protagonist are lured out of their homes, and into life threatening situations. “This is how it is, honey: you come out and we’ll drive away, have a nice ride. But if you don’t come out we’re gonna wait till your people come home and they’re all going to get it. (399) In the house at the end of the street, Alyssa and her mother move into a new house. She meets Ryan, a boy that lives near her and the two hit it off right away. Against her mother’s wishes, Alyssa continues her relationship with Ryan and sneaks out to see him. Ryan is not all that he seems. He kidnaps Alyssa and force her to stay in his house against her