Rootless Self, Perplexed Soul: The Allegorical Meaning of Modernism in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is one of Oates-s most famous short stories. Analyzing the short story from the perspective of Daniel Bell-s theory of modernism, this paper argues that as the protagonist of this short story, Connie-s life experience reflects the features and crisis of modernism, and manifests the transition from modernism to post-modernism. Thus, this short story is an allegory of modernism.