With Fate Comes Choice In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, a short story by Joyce Carol Oates, the combination of the circumstances and the choices that Connie makes all indicate that she is responsible for her own fate. Connie’s family life plays a large role in making her a very independent and self-reliant person. She wants to present herself as a mature attractive individual, and her family structure sets her up with the opportunity to do as she sees fit. In making the choice to present herself to the boys in this manner she has also made the choice to assume all responsibility for the consequences of her actions. When Connie encounters Arnold she attempts to flirt with him and puts on her attractive persona just as she would
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Each member of her family has forced this responsibility on her in their own way, though often unintentionally. The first indication of this is her father’s lack of presence in her family. Connie notes that “[her] father is away at work most of the time” (1). She has few opportunities to interact with her father because when he is home his schedule consists of reading the newspaper, eating, and going to bed. Connie is lacking the much needed attention of one of the important role models in kids’ lives causing her to be much more self-reliant. Even more pressure act like an adult is put on Connie by the standards her sister has set. Her parents think that her sister, June, is a well-established adult and are very happy with the success she has had. June has indirectly put a lot of pressure on Connie to meet their parent’s expectations, but in doing so as also given her some additional freedoms. Connie’s parents think that her sister is the perfect role model. June is employed at Connie’s high school and “saves money and helps clean the house [and also] cooks” (1). Since they regard her sister so highly her parents don’t mind when Connie decides to imitate her. Her sister goes out with her friends all the time so Connie’s parents don’t have any objections to Connie doing so as well. This sets Connie up with nearly infinite freedom. She is able to go out with her friends and do whatever she wants, and her parents never bother to ask, because after all, that’s what her sister does too. The tension that exists between Connie and her mother is another big factor that helps set the stage for Connie’s self-responsibility. Connie is young and pretty, and she is well aware of this. She is always “craning her neck to glance into mirrors” to check on her looks (1). Her relationship with her mother is a
Each member of her family has forced this responsibility on her in their own way, though often unintentionally. The first indication of this is her father’s lack of presence in her family. Connie notes that “[her] father is away at work most of the time” (1). She has few opportunities to interact with her father because when he is home his schedule consists of reading the newspaper, eating, and going to bed. Connie is lacking the much needed attention of one of the important role models in kids’ lives causing her to be much more self-reliant. Even more pressure act like an adult is put on Connie by the standards her sister has set. Her parents think that her sister, June, is a well-established adult and are very happy with the success she has had. June has indirectly put a lot of pressure on Connie to meet their parent’s expectations, but in doing so as also given her some additional freedoms. Connie’s parents think that her sister is the perfect role model. June is employed at Connie’s high school and “saves money and helps clean the house [and also] cooks” (1). Since they regard her sister so highly her parents don’t mind when Connie decides to imitate her. Her sister goes out with her friends all the time so Connie’s parents don’t have any objections to Connie doing so as well. This sets Connie up with nearly infinite freedom. She is able to go out with her friends and do whatever she wants, and her parents never bother to ask, because after all, that’s what her sister does too. The tension that exists between Connie and her mother is another big factor that helps set the stage for Connie’s self-responsibility. Connie is young and pretty, and she is well aware of this. She is always “craning her neck to glance into mirrors” to check on her looks (1). Her relationship with her mother is a