Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been

There are circumstances in one's life that force us

to advance our mentality. In Joyce Carol Oates'

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been." Connie, a

young teen is faced with a life changing experience,

forcing her to transform from a young teen to a young

adult. In John Updike's "A & P" Sammy chooses to put

himself in a tight situation only to loose his job,

trying to be heroic to three young girls and failed,

as a result of his child-like decision. "Where Are

You Going, Where Have You Been" is an exceptional

example of a coming-of-age story, unlike John Updikes

"A & P".

Connie from Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going,

Where Have You Been" is your typical young teen that

lies to her parents in order to do what she wants to

do. She has no worries or concerns about the

consequences of her actions. A good situation in the

story that describes this is when Connie's best

friends father drove them across town to go shopping

or to the movies. Connie's sense of style is

juvenile as well. When she is home her attire is

child-like and innocent. When she is out with her

friends she dresses very titillating. An example of

her dramatic change of fashion is " She wore a pull

over jersey blouse that looked one way when she was at

home and another way when she was away from home"

Oates 190. These examples show Connie's immaturity.

Throughout the story she shows selfishness, until, a

mysterious man who arrived at her home forcing an

altimatum upon her which causes her to make a life

changing decision. The man tries to convince her to

"take a ride" but in reality, him and connie both know

it is so much more than that. Connie becomes hesitant

to go with him, so he threatens her by saying " This

is how it is honey: you come out and we'll drive away,

have a nice ride. But if you don't come out we're

gonna wait till your people come home and they're all

going to get it" 202 Oates Connie chooses to go with

him, as a result the spring of her adulthood is very

self- sacrificing, awakening and mentally mature.

In John Updikes "A&P" the main character Sammy seems

to be very dependent