Hello there! You did not post the options for this question. Since I was not able to find those options online, I'll give an answer and an explanation, as thoroughly as possible, that will probably fit one of the options you have.
Answer:
The theme in "Shopping", by Joyce Carol Oates is <u>the difficult relationship between mother and daughter.</u>
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Explanation:
The story is developed around Mrs. Dietrich and her daughter Nola's relationship. Even though Mrs. Dietrich loves her daughter unconditionally, their connection has been faltering now that Nola is growing up. Her mother is having a hard time understanding and accepting Nola's preferences, needs, and desires. She is not ready to see Nola leave, nor to admit that this daughter of hers is becoming a woman of her own. As a matter of fact, Mrs. Dietrich has come to a desperate point where she feels she does not know her daughter at all:
<em>Once after one of their quarrels Mrs. Dietrich told a friend of hers, the mother too of a teenage daughter, “I just don't know her any longer, how can you keep living with someone you don't know?” and the woman said, “Eventually you can't.” </em>
Still, there is love. If there wasn't, they wouldn't struggle so much to keep up - and put up - with each other. Nola will eventually become a whole individual, completely unattached from her mother. Yet, love will remain - a freer, more independent type of love.
