Arnold Friend: A Narrative Fiction

Joyce carol Oates makes her mark on the cultural reform taking place in the 1960's with her short story "Where are you going, where have you been." A story about a young girl named Connie, and her exploration of sexuality and independence. Throughout the story we learn of her late night adventures, her disdain for her mother, and her very close off relationship with her father. “He didn't bother talking much to them, but around his bent head Connie's mother kept picking at 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

“I know everybody". Those are some of the first words spoken by Arnold Friend in the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. The impact of these words on the reader will vary based on how one chooses to approach them. To some, they may be the soul of mundanity, with little to no significance or weight apart from some arrogance on the part of Arnold. To others, they may be indicative a deeper, much darker, reality within the story. To the latter approach, being one of numerous interpretations, some critics have ventured to declare Arnold Friend as being the personification of Satan. Since many before me have expounded upon the physical evidence of Arnold’s demonic nature, I would like to approach this idea from multiple different

As the story progresses, it is Sunday morning and her family is getting ready to attend a family bar-b-queue. However, Connie insists on not attending and is left alone at home. As she is washing her hair, she hears an unfamiliar car driving up to her house and her heart begins to pound for she does not want the visitor to see her undone. When Arnold Friend, a man she has seen at the restaurant before, but has never spoken to, shows up on her doorstep, she is someone curious as to why he is visiting her. Throughout the scene, he is attempting to persuade Connie into taking a ride with him and his friend Ellie. The more he speaks to her, he reveals to her that he knows many things about her such as her friends, her name, and family and where they are currently at. As the scene develops, Connie no longer has interest in Arnold for she now is scared and is fearful of what his intentions are.

Jennifer popped her head out of the ladies room, looked left and then right, saw the coast clear and made a beeline for the garage mall exit to where she parked her car. Clutching her purse close to her bosom, walking swiftly, the look of guilt affected her posture and gait, as well as her face. In front of her, the parking garage entrance in sight and escape within her grasp, she leaned her weight into the heavy glass door to open it by the polished brass push-plate that somehow tripped an internal switch that blended guilt with fear. Ronnie watched her closer than she realized because he stood outside the door in the garage like a loyal dog waiting for its master. She was muzzled to supply any explanation because she did try leaving without

“yeah, yeah,’ smiled Abby. Abby was on her way. She was running a little late but it was okay Caleb would not care. Abby hopped into her black Mustang and headed for Caleb’s house. It was very stormy and hard to see much of the road. Abby drove very carefully. Caleb didn’t live more than fifteen miles away but to get to his house Abby still had to drive on the highway. After about fifteen minutes Marcus headed out in his mom’s car since Abby took the Mustang. The storm was getting worse now he then got a text. It was from Caleb and it said, “Are you guys coming?’ that scared Marcus. Abby should have almost been there. Marcus kept driving and was hoping Abby would make it. He looked down as he got another message but couldn’t open it until he passed the canyon. He drove past the canyon then looked at the text and it was from Caleb again. The text read, “Are you guys okay?’. This time Marcus replied, “Yes, Abby should be there any minute I will be there a little later.” It probably wasn’t the smartest idea for Marcus to be texting but he couldn’t help it he was way worried. Marcus was now driving really fast trying to get to Caleb’s. He would be able to see Abby along the road if she needed help or something. He drove and drove and couldn’t find her. Finally, he got to Caleb’s house. Abby still was not there. Marcus was freaking out. Caleb called him down. Then Marcus’ phone started ringing. “Hello” said Marcus. Caleb could hear Mrs.

Bellowing out the oversized rough looking man showed his gun at Abram, ‘Get the hell out of my sight you piece of shit!’ Stepping backward Abram nodded, although overwhelmed silently pledging a new chapter in life, and began the journey home. Flowing gust of wind blew endlessly, dressing the scene with dark moving clouds, within each ruffling leaf his heart sang. The idea of danger bypassed his soul entering into the darkest area, on the edge of the once crowed park. Previously empty streets are lined with vehicles of all sorts, tall aging street lambs offer no help, most are in need of repair while a few stay dimly illuminated. Reading the signs along the way, “No Parking” increasing his pace realizing this is not a good position to be in. There are no apartments close by, the park is too dark, he could not see anyone, or for that matter hear any noise whatsoever. Little did Abram know, there are people, many dangerous people watching his every step! Two middle aged men keep their stranger under observation from a building a distance away. Communicating to another set of men sitting in a van with tinted windows along the parkway. Passing a large truck Abram had no idea the graffiti truck held many more people with high

I had been driving for two hours, but I didn’t care. Beams of sunlight glimmered through the gaps between buildings, and the cityscape was alive with light. It was a good day for diving, and I was a good driver. It was a perfect combination and I couldn’t help but smile. Mom undid the windows and her smile matched mine as her long grey hair danced in the rushing air. “Enjoying it, Mom?” I asked, waking her from a trance. “Yes, Robert” she replied, her voice cooler than the morning. The engine purred smoothly as I navigated the car gently through the turnpikes sharp curve. Ahead, a large truck spouted black stacks of exhaust high into the air, leaving a path clear of traffic in its wake. Behind it, a lone blue convertible cruzed comfortably, taking advantage of the now open road. Despite being a couple of

The ride to school was awkward. Since his father had to go in early for work at the new Overhaul and Repair center the next town over, Dante had to be driven to his first day of school by his soon-to-be stepmother, Laura. It wasn’t that Dante hated Laura or that she wasn’t a nice person. She just wasn’t that intelligent, and it was beyond annoying having to deal with her sometimes. It was quite cramped in the metallic blue ‘99 Pontiac Firebird with Laura’s 8 year old son, Ryan in the back seat, sitting quietly, as the sports car trawled the streets of Lawndale, Maryland.

It had not seemed this bright since he first laid eyes on Anna’s mother twenty years ago. He loved her the moment he laid eyes on her. She, unfortunately, loved John. If things had only been different, but they weren’t. Stephen continued drinking the scotch as he reminisced about Emily Wellington, the love of his life, although so unrequited. He thought of her long flowing blonde hair and her innocent blue eyes. Why hadn’t she been wearing her seat belt the day of the accident? Emily always wore a seat belt. A tear began to stream down Stephen’s cheek as the thought of the possibilities that would never be, not now. Anna crossed his mind for a moment. Since she looked just like her father, Stephen’s thoughts quickly returned to Emily. As the bottle of scotch neared the bottom, Stephen’s guilt of Emily’s death urged him to apologize to her. He took some stationary from the old oak wood desk’s top drawer and began to pen a letter to Emily. He explained all the details of his horrific plan in detail, the payoff, the cut brake lines, his hope of her surviving the crash and eventually marrying

The car stopped at its final destination still unknown to Connie, the only real passenger aboard the carriage to eternity. The place was all too familiar to Arnold Friend for this was where he truly had domain. “Ellie,” Arnold called to his companion still listening to his transistor radio, “get her outta the car so she can see her know home.”

There are many humbling sights of unfathomable magnificence, that have been described in some similar fashion, on the pale blue dot approximately ninety-three million miles away from the sun. Here there are many creatures that gather in groups and walk on two legs. These mysteriously coordinated, yet chaotic and lanky beings are humans. These gatherings are often called towns or cities for brevity’s sake. In these civilizations it is commonly known if life were a deck of cards, drawings straws, or a game of hungry hippos where the game is completely tilted one side, someone is going to come up short. In essence, there is a fine line between thriving and suffering. So much so, in some cases, trying does not matter in the least. While that's

The car finally slipped free from the stubborn mud. She looked towards Ellie and ran for the drivers seat. He tried to chase her but he wasn't as fast as Connie . His shoes were just like Arnold’s. They were wobbly and shaky. Connie has never driven in her life. She yanked and tugged at the steering wheel and followed the rest of the trail to the end. There was no where else to go. Connie had finally accepted the concept that she was going to die. At that moment, she thought she heard her sister yell. There was also footsteps in the woods. The yelling kept getting closer. Connie turned around to look in the direction it was coming from. The sounds of the footsteps appeared by the car. A black, plastic sack went over her head. The yelling of what she assumed to be her sister stopped. All was at a silent

After lunch at one of my favorite restaurants, my younger sister Ashley and I hopped into my aged, tan Chrysler Sebring and drove out of the parking lot onto the dirty, bumpy road. The grounds soaked with rain and the autumn leaves floated across the sky. My car was like a bouncy spring on the bumpy road. As we continued to head towards our destination, our excitement grew. After a couple minutes of driving we finally made it to the Luchies’ house. Their house was warm and inviting as Ashley and I entered into it.

In an instant, these lives have forever been changed. One moment there was a successful businessman, a striving mother and a bright, young man. The next, a man-slaughterer, an accident witness and a corpse. An entire world of possibility was crushed along with every bone in Andrew’s body, the expensive steel frame of Mr. Caravero’s car and Anne’s hopeful spirit.

Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is not a simple black and white short story. One is not told that Connie dies or even exactly what happens to her, but the reader interprets that her fate is not a good one. Connie’s future is already determined from the moment we are introduced to her character, and it is a deadly one. After examining the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, one can conclude that there were factors from this narrative which led to the demise of its main character, Connie. Factors such as her broken relationship with her family and specifically her “daddy issues”, her teenage “religion” tying into her superficial way of thinking, and even the pop culture she is surrounded by all contribute to where Connie is headed when encountered with Arnold Friend. Connie knows what lies ahead of her at end of the story, but the real question is, does she know it is because of where she had been?