In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, a main theme is duality. The very title of the story calls attention to dualism: a future (where are you going) and a past (where have you been). Then we have the two different lenses of the adult life and the youth life, as seen from the narrator’s divided perspective. The story is full of allusions, deception, and allegory. The recurrence of duality within the often ambiguous narrative acts as a focus amidst the confusion. As such, the theme of duality serves to more effectively describe to the reader the ambivalent feelings inside the mind of the main character, Connie. The title of the story clearly shows two sides to the upcoming narrative. “Where Are You Going” (Oates) could refer to the future of the main character, her perception of the future, or who she will become in the future. Similarly, “Where Have You Been” (Oates) could refer to her past, her memories, or the person that she is leaving behind. Beginning the story with these two questions sets the stage for the reader, alluding that there will be two elements to the story, and their meaning is not yet clear. This use of duality in the title itself is the first sign that this thematic element will be present throughout this tale. The main character, Connie, lives within two worlds: the world at home, and the world outside with her friends. Connie dresses differently based on where she is or where she is going. By the statements, “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. Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home” (Oates), we can see how duality is used as a central theme in the story by the author to clearly write about Connie’s divergent lifestyle and uncertain future. At home, Connie tries to live what she sees as a normal life, or at least act li