Where are you going and Where Have you Been?
During the years of adolescence one goes through a time of confusion and curiosity where finding themselves is inevitable. In the tale "Where Are you going, Where Have you Been?", Joyce Carol Oates uses a teenage girl named Connie, to tell a story filled with rebellion and freedom. At this story's conclusion Connie comes to the realization that she was not as independent as she once thought, and that she didn't know as much about life as she perceived. Using a poor relationship between Connie and her mother, a rebellious side of Connie, and a strange boy, Oates tells a lesson that every adolescent should be aware of. Connie and her mother had a very poor relationship that contributed to her constantly wanting to rebel against what her mother truly wanted. "Her mother, who noticed everything and knew everything and who hadn't much reason any longer to look at her own face, scolded Connie about it. Stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you're so pretty?" (Oates, 614) By this statement from Connie's mother we can infer that she was very jealous of Connie's appearance and would take this jealousy out on her daughter. "Why don't you keep your room clean like your sister? How've you got your hair fixed-what the hell stinks
She said she would and so she tapped her friend's arm on her way out-and Connie said she would meet her at eleven, across the way. "June did this, June did that, she saved money and helped clean the house and c!ooked and Connie couldn't do a thing, her mind was all filled with trashy daydreams. " (Oates, 616) Maybe this older, more experienced, and popular guy really did just want to buy Connie some food, or was that just an expression used by those guys to get these young girls alone with them in their cars? Connie didn't care, being with all of these different guys was a way of getting the affection that every individual needs that was lacking due to her relationship with her mother. " (Oates, 615) A parent's jealousy for their child can cause the child to feel the need to rebel against them and find what they are not getting from home wherever else they can. In this case Connie was just looking for someone to feel close to and love, since she obviously was not getting any positive attention from home. " (Oates, 615) This drive-in restaurant contained all different kids of people, but the only people that Connie cared about were the older guys that hung out there. It is obvious why Connie's mother preferred June to Connie, with June there was no jealousy. " This urgent feeling reflects Connie's desire for something more sexually stimulating than the kissing sessions she spends with the boys, like Eddie. Although Connie was always rebelling against her mother, she tried hard to hide it, it gave her self-satisfaction to know that she was rebelling against her mother without her having a clue. "It was summer vacation-getting in her mother's way and thinking, dreaming about the boys she met. "A boy named Eddie came in to talk with them. "Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home. This brings up the major factor in Connie's rebellion against her parents, sneaking around with older, more experienced, and the more popular guys. ? Hair spray? You don't see your sister using that junk" (Oates, 614) Connie's sister was not as beautiful as she was, in fact June was not pretty at all, she was over-weight and extremely plain. " (Tierce & Crafton, 643) "Connie represents an entire generation of young people who have grown up-or tried to-without the help of those bedtime stories which not only entertain the child, but also enable him vicariously to experience and work through problems which he will encounter in adolescence.
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Acceptance Essays
