Arnold Friend Essay

The Hidden Identity of Arnold Friend The world is full of people who portray themselves as someone or something else. People usually hide their identity to obtain things that they want. It is common to be fooled by someone's appearance. In Joyce Carol Oates's, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been," Arnold Friend is an example of someone trying to trick another person into believing that he is something that he is not. In the story, a girl named Connie is confronted by a man who is trying

short story, “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?,” Arnold Friend does not see an issue with bothering younger girls; however, this may due to his lack of morals. Many could argue that this story was a dream or Connie got what she asked for because of her attitude. Though the ending is not told, it can be assumed that Connie may have been sexually assaulted by Arnold Friend and no one deserves to be in that situation. However, if Arnold had morals none of this would have happened. Arnold’s last

her until Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over." The story is also dedicated to Bob Dylan, who bares a striking resemblance to the antagonist Arnold Friend. However, in interviews, Oates simply said that Dylan’s song “It’s all over

“Where are you Going, Where Have You been?” (The Mind of a Serial Killer) The short story, “Where are you Going, Where Have You been?” by Joyce Carol Oates the story of man, Arnold Friend, who preys on young girls. The story is based on the real life serial killer, Charles Schmid, of Tuscon, Arizona. Oates' story describes how Friend stalked a 15 year old girl name Connie. He learned a great deal about her, presumably from following, eavesdropping, and talking to people who knew her. When he was sure

Who is Arnold Friend? Joyce Carol Oates was born June 16, 1938 in Lockport New York. At a young age Oates started writing. Scenes from her early environment are frequently used as settings in her stories. In her elementary years she wrote stories and “constructed 200 page books, which she designed and bound herself” (Helterman and Layman 371). The lack of information provided about her early years and her making large books at a young age is a good indication that she was an outcast and had a troubled

may conclude “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is an allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve. An analysis of imagery reveals Arnold Friend’s Satan-like characteristics: “shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig” (Oates 554), perhaps to hide horns, and his “friendly”, “sleepy dreamy smile”, tempting and ironically

character Arnold Friend, who is the devil, and Connie will be the low self a stem girl who will fall into committing a sin. As the story plays out Arnold Friend is the devil which as he is trying to take Connie and bring her under his wing and kill her. As the story, plays out they give clues that Arnold Friend is indeed the devil by a quote “Connie looked away from Friend’s smile to the car, which was painted so bright it almost hurt her eyes to look at it. It said the name, Arnold Friend”. He refers

story is that a man named Arnold Friend liberated a young rebellious girl, Connie, from the torment of her youth. However, in reality the audience is eluded to the symbolism that Connie is being pulled away from her “golden” innocence and into the arms of Satan himself. Arnold Friend exhibits Satanic traits, and on this symbolic level, a young girl being stripped from her childhood, and into an unforgiving world. The story reveals that Arnold Friend is no boy or friend, he is referred to as a devil-like

family and herself. These repressed thoughts become the motivating force behind Connie’s daydreams and implementation of her defense mechanisms, when confronted by Arnold Friend and Ellie. Once Connie recognizes her repressed thoughts regarding Arnold Friend, she undergoes reality anxiety. Although her efforts to escape Arnold Friend are futile, she uncovers the truth behind her newfound: that it was hollow and self-centered. Therefore, the short story, “Where are you going, where have you been”

Arnold Friend, a human being with supernatural powers due to his association to the devil, manipulates Connie and persuades her to leave with him and turn her against her family. In the story "Where are you going; where have you been?" written by Joyce Oates, Connie has never met or heard of Arnold Friend until he comes to her house in his beaming yellow car with his friend Ellie. Arnold Friends comes to Connie's house to take her away and to give her a new and better life away from her family. He