Literary Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

"Where are you going, where have you been?” Is mixture of psychological thriller and coming of age story, written by Joyce Carol Oates, an American author born on June 16, 1938, in Lockport, New York. This short story tells us about Connie, a fifteen year old girl who lives with her mom, her dad and her sister June. Connie is described as a teenager who is constantly preoccupied about her appearance, trying to look desirable and mature. Her dangerous and naive search for maturity and independence will put her in an uncomfortable situation that gives her the opportunity to demonstrate what she has been wanting this whole time: that she is no longer a little girl, that she can act and react as an adult, and that she is independent from her parents, only to realize that she’s scared, nervous and screaming for her mother. "Where are you going, where have you been?” Addresses a variety of topics, and the purpose of this literary analysis is to evaluate the story and, at the same time, demonstrate how the theme of Connie’s desperation to become independent is evidenced throughout characterization and setting. …show more content…
The constant scolding from her mother only makes Connie frustrated, and just at the beginning of the story, Oates writes that "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 ". This quote demonstrates how Connie could get to the point of wishing her own death just so she can be free from her mother, to stop being under her rules and her constants screams and vain hopes to become young again. The author doesn’t write this literally, but it is not difficult to find out the enormous jealousy that Connie’s mother had for her beauty and youth, since she used to be also beautiful and young, but that was all back in