Summary Of The Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, a young girl named Connie isolates herself from her family because she feels like she is better than them. Connie is an attractive young woman and uses that to her advantage. One of Connie’s favorite things to do is go out with her friends, and flaunt what she’s got to her male counterparts. Because Connie doesn’t get the positive attention she wants from her family, she turns to other people, which gets her into trouble. Connie’s boundaries are tested when a scary male threatens her at her own home, and though her instincts are screaming at her, she still chooses to leave with him. Though Connie comes off as a person with all beauty and no brain, it turns out she does know where to draw the line, it just may be too late. Connie realizes she is different from her family and likes to draw attention to herself because of this. Not only does she realize this, but her mother is quick to point it out as well. Connie’s mother notices how much Connie is always staring in the mirror and likes to pick on her because of this,

“’Connie stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think

Connie knows how different she is from her sister, June, as well. While Connie’s mother doesn’t like much of what Connie does because it’s nothing like June, going out with girlfriends is the one of the things she will allow. This is due to the fact that June goes out with friends which is considered normal in the household. However, when Connie goes with her friends she usually meets up with other boys. She loves the affection and how special they make her feel. Going behind her mother’s pleases Connie even more because she knows her mother would be extremely upset if she found out what Connie was really doing when she leaves the