Vee K
English 102
October 17, 2014

A parent’s method of raising and teaching their children will shape how they will think and react to certain situations when entering adulthood. In “Where are you Going, Where Have you been?” Joyce Carol Oates carefully and ironically chooses the title in itself, along with other details in the story to show us how Connie’s parent’s lack of involvement and favoritism towards her sister, was a direct cause as to why she was so unprepared to handle what takes place at the turning point of the story.

It all begins with Connie’s mother. She is always scolding at her and picking on her, constantly reminding her of all the things she doesn’t do or should do: “ Stop gawking at yourself. You think you’re so pretty? How’ve you got your hair fixed?” (119). Most would just assume that Connie’s mother is jealous of her daughter’s looks and carefree spirit. But, her mother was once pretty too and now that her looks were “gone” she takes that feeling out on Connie, almost as if her daughter reminds her of her youth and its something she wishes she could have back once again. She seems very unhappy and just carries around this negative energy and its shown in the parent’s marriage as well. She is definitely the authoritative figure in the home. Connie’s father isn’t around much and when he is home he doesn’t speak or interact much at all, therefore Connie doesn’t have the perfect balance of a mother and father role for her to learn from. Being that Connie is 15, she does not have that male figure in her life to prepare her on how to deal with boys. After a night of going out to the plaza he picks them up and, “he never bothered to ask what they had done” (119). Which later on becomes a problem when she meets Arnold Friend. They are only too busy parenting and worrying about their other daughter, June.

It is blatant that