An Analysis Of Joyce Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

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Joyce Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” describes a young girl who has critical mom that wishes she could be more like her older sister. It begins with the mother “who noticed everything and knew everything” (171) to Connie’s mother her older sister is perfect. Because of this she has set the do and don’ts for what Connie is allowed to do. Due to her sister she and some girls could go and hang out whenever they wanted. Instead of staying at the mall the girls went “across the highway…to a drive-in restaurant where the older kids hung out” (172). There is where Connie would explore her sexuality and thrive to get attention brought upon herself. She’d pretend to a women when in fact she is nothing but a girl. One summer night …show more content…
The first is a movie “13 Going on 30,” and the second being a senior about to graduate. Rereading the story the movie “13 Going on 30” became fitting to the ending of the story describing a girl who wants to grow up, but then realizes how awful it truly it is. In the movie she it’s her thirteenth birthday and after an embarrassing moment she wants nothing more than to grow up wishing saying “I want to be thirty”. Later she realizes that she must choose between staying in this alternate universe where she is thirty with a job, boyfriend, and life or go back to being thirteen. Much like the reader who wants nothing more than to be the object of someone’s desire and to grow up “she drew up her shoulders and sucked in” (172). In the end Connie realizes she must grow up and take the risk to save her family “she pushed the door slowly…watching this body..moving out to where Arnold waited” (183). Seen as a child to an adult the connection to a senior graduating came to mind because of the transition. To the senior, this time is a huge milestone in their life. This is the time which they must make tough decisions based on their needs. Also during this time is when the senior is no longer seen as just a child they are an adult with responsibilities. During this period is when no one is there to take care of them everything relies solely on their
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