In the story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"" by Joyce Carol Oates, fifteen-year-old Connie was torn between two different lifestyles. The first was her home life that consists of a materialistic mother, an unemotional father and a plain sister, June. The second life was with her friends and the rebellious summer life that they lived. Could Connie's destiny have been changed? Was her tragedy the fault of her conceited ways or the lack of family support?

Connie was the typical fifteen-year-old girl. She spent endless moments staring at her reflection in the mirror; comparing her looks to others to make sure she was prettier than the rest. Beauty was everything Connie knew. She lived in a fantasy world; she based her identity on the surrounding pop culture; she was narcissistic and shaped her identity around materialistic beliefs.

The mindset Connie carried affected her family life...