Where Have You Been and Where Are You Going

When comparing the two characters in the bypass stories made me think of a quote, I perceive growing up as a kid. corpulent a teen the facts of life is like better-looking a fish a bath. Now see these two stories the truth of that quote rings true. As striplings we were invisible to life and the consequences of those decisions. I made many an separate(prenominal) mistakes, as teenagers that, I now realize were dopy and not intelligent. Life lessons are tough as Sammy and Collie both discovered.In the short tosh of A&P Sammy is a horm iodine driven green teenager who is attracted to three new girls that walk into his chime in on a slow day in nothing more than a suggestive travel suit. In a hormone obsessed seismic disturbance Sammy wants to impress these rebellious teenage girls. As you exhibit the story you see how Sammy give-up the ghosts enamored with the three four-year-old girls in what can be only get divulge as erotic and stimulating instantly. Sammy desc ribe one of the girls swim suit as the straps were off her shoulders looped undecided around the cool tops of arms, and I conceive of as a result the suit had slipped a junior-grade on her. (Kennedy 17)This is definition of hormones because any young man is hoping to catch a peek at a naked woman. As a teenager that is what you pray for at night. Sammy became even more rancid on when her look moved across the racks, and stopped, and glowering so slow it made my stomach hinderance the inside of my apron. (Kennedy 17) This could be considered Sammys first libidinous affair from afar. Sammy wants to be noticed by these girls further the moment hasnt presented itself. Mr. Lengel gives him the perfect opportunity to become their champion.When Mr. Lengel express to the girls how inappropriate their appearance are for a grocery store. Sammy went into a fit of anger to be dramatic from his future suitors. In Sammys judicial decision these young beautiful teenagers were making a firmness of purpose of loveliness that existed only on a higher(prenominal) level and it was free of the codes of the average grocery shopper. Sammy resigns in an attempt to defend their honor, exclusively recognizes his foolishness when the girls vary without giving him as much as a glance. In the short story of Where are you going.Where fork out you been was a very hard trying objet dart to read. Connie is a young girl and knows it all. Connie was a characteristic teenager female who only concerns were her looks, popular music, and boys. Connie was absent-minded with her appearance that she would crane her neck into the mirrors, or checking other peoples faces to make sure her make was all right. (Oates 381) Connies commence would reprimand roughly being so vain and belittled her by placing her older sister on a motorbike stool to live up too.Connies receive urged her to be more responsible which is something we all perceive as teenagers. Connie wished her mother and s ister was dead because she valued to be her own individual. Connie like a true teenager felt invisible and she ignored her mothers warnings. Connie is able to hang out with her agonists because June had desexualise a good precedent. Connies best friends father would drive them to the obtain situation and pick them up with no questions. Connie and her friends would use the shopping plaza as the meeting place but only to run to the dine-in to meet boys.Sunday newr onnoon the family goes to a barbecue at the Aunts house. When asked by her mother if she wanted to go, Connie rolled her eyes and said no because she wanted to feel separate plus she was to good to hang out with little kids and play. Connie was a grown woman until Arnold arrived and brought back to reality. This story is sad responsibility and paying attention to her surrounds is important. Connie cried out for her sister and mother when Arnold was abducting her with no success.The very(prenominal) people she wan ted dead for independence she wanted to save her from this monster. The similarity between the short stories by John Updike and Joyce Carol Oates shows how as teenagers we act impulsively, we are invisible, and no care for consequences. Not until later after time realize our mistake but it is to late to correct. Those mistakes are called life lessons and that is what both these characters have in common. Sammy and Connies lessons is simple as a teenager you are not untouchable but unsafe to lifes painful lessons.