Where are you going, where have you been

"Where are you going, where have you been" is considered one of the most famous works by Joyce Carol Oates.

After reading the short story, I think a lot. It make me to think about personality, the rebellion of teenaged, and the influence of family. 

First, the story took place in1960s, happened on a pretty but air-

headed teenager who seems terribly ordinary. She doesn't have a 

warm family, she doesn't get along well with her mother and sister. She was a lonely girl, it caused the tragedy happen. She needs friends and boys, because she wants someone can listen to her, respect her and give her love. And she is in the Teenagers treason time, it makes her do something without mature. Then Arnold Friend who was rich and good-looking appeared It is a great temptation to her and she couldn't resist it. 

We never learn what happens after the ending of the story, Where did they go? Did Connie live or die? What did Arnold do to her? Rather than answering the questions embedded in the story's title, the ending only seems to open up more questions. 

The influences on Connie and her lack of instilled reasoning led to her down fall. Her family’s fragmented nature was echoed in her actions. She was unable to 
communicate with her parents, and she was never was able to learn anything of significance. She felt abandoned and rejected, because no one took the initiative to teach her how to make right decisions. Connie was unable to mature until she was faced with death and self protection. In the end, her situation made it difficult for her to think and reason beyond the position she was in.  By not being able apply insight, she fell into Arnold Friends entice. In my opinion, Misguidance by the parents strongly contributed to Connie’s death. 

Charles Howard 'Smitty' Schmid, Jr.   was an American serial killer, is the basis of the story, so it is a true crime, Oates wrote this to make people focus on teenage's education, and the influence of the family.