People who ignore their situation and don't question anything are easily attracted by their enemies who use their weaknesses to bring about their downfall. The main character of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is driven by her need to rebel against her family, only to find herself in an unfortunate situation that she could not control. In "The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allen Poe, the main character lures his enemy out for revenge, choosing to murder him in secret rather than through legal channels and providing no proof to the outside world that his enemy is dead . Arnold Friend and Montresor lure their victims to them in the same way: by pretending to be friendly and successfully leading to their downfall by using their weaknesses (men for Connie and wine for Fortunato) against them. Connie, from "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been", wants to rebel against her family. She uses her attractiveness to flirt with the boys at the local restaurant behind their backs as a form of rebellion. She feels like her family doesn't appreciate her; her father pays her no attention and her mother constantly compares her to her sister, criticizing her every move and asking why she cares so much about her appearance. During one of her outings, she meets a boy whom she chooses in vain to ignore. Later, he shows up at her house pretending to be her friend, calling himself Arnold Friend and talking to her as if he were another boy she was flirting with at the restaurant and pretending to be her age. At first, she subtly flirts with him, only realizing the danger when it is too late. Montresor, fifty years after the events, confesses to the murder of his enemy, Fortunato. He justifies his actions by saying that Fortunato caused him a thousand...... middle of paper...... men. Each of the characters was easily brought down by their weaknesses. Ultimately, Connie and Fortunato were brought down as a direct result of their weaknesses, their refusal to question their situation, and their inability to see the signs of what was going to happen to them. If they could have been aware of what awaited them instead of submitting to their weaknesses, their situations could have been completely different and it might not have led to their downfall. Works Cited Oates, Joyce C. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"" Np, nd Web. April 20, 2014. .Poe, Edgar A. "Short Stories: The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe." Stories short: The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, nd Web April 20.. 2014. .