Arnold Friend Character Analysis

“I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love” (Marilyn Monroe). Joyce Carol Oates is the author of the realistic allegory story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. The story is about a young girl named Connie, who likes seeking attention from men, as a distraction from her problems at home. She meets a man named Arnold Friend, he goes after Connie, claiming he has to take her for a ride, but it is obvious he wants to do other things. Because of this character’s actions, it is determined that he is a representation of the devil. Through plot, characterization, and dialogue, Oates successfully portrays Arnold Friend as a symbolic Satan.

Arnold Friend, Joyce Carol Oates's antagonist in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a man that persuades Connie, the fifteen-year-old protagonist and target of Arnold's thirst, into abandoning her home, her family and succumbing to his power. Observed through the supernatural lens, Arnold Friend can be described as a malevolent force that displays many characteristics of a vampire.

Connie, the girl that every guy wants but only a few are lucky to get, is quite possibly one of the most cliche characters in literature. She’s a two-faced, insecure girl with a smart mouth and resentment towards her family members. In the beginning of the story, Oates sets the scene with Connie out with her friend, whom she then ditches to hang out with some random guy she met at the diner. Everything seems to be going predictably, until the unimaginable happens when Arnold Friend pulls into her driveway, beckoning her to come outside since he knows her family isn’t home. He knows this because he has convinced himself that Connie is in love with him, and he wants her so bad that he has been stalking her for who knows how long. In Where are you going, Where have you been?, Oates uses the cunning and charismatic Arnold Friend along with the insecure Connie to foreshadow the horrible fate that is met.

The persona of a sociopath appears to be much like any human. In many cases, one would not be able to "pick him out of a crowd." Their minds, however, differ greatly from the average mind. A sociopath is extremely smart and methodical and most often is very meticulous in the way in which he acts. While many people are not thinking beyond the norm, a psychopath thinks about his every breath, step, and word. In the short story "Where are you going, Where have you been?" by Joyce Carol Oates, the depiction of a sociopath is apparent. Arnold’s mannerism, thoughts and tactics create the perfect portrayal of a truly sociopathic character.

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is a popular short story written by Joyce Carol Oates, a well-known American writer born in 1938 who is well-known for her literary works in various genres (“Joyce Carol Oates”). In her short story, Oates depicts Connie, a self-centered teenager, being pursued by a mysterious and potentially dangerous individual who claims to be named Arnold Friend. At the end of the work, Arnold finally convinces Connie to allow herself to be abducted by him and his friend which could lead to Connie’s death. Throughout Oates’ piece, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” hidden intent is continually observed, resulting from the mentions of Arnold Friend’s mirrored sunglasses and his mask-like makeup, which both symbolize masks.

Most of us have heard of the famous story by Oates called ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You been’, featuring the infamous Arnold Friend and plenty of adult themes. So many possible theories stem from just one character from a short story whether he could perhaps be death, or the devil in disguise coming to take Connie away; or perhaps just a mental creepy man coming to kidnap and rape Connie. So many things that Arnold Friend tells little vain Connie can be interpreted in either direction, it is all in how you look at it.

The article "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates who notes that it is for Bob Dylan, a musician whose music plays a significant role in the context. The text centers on a young American teenage girl, Connie who is rebellion and has a distant relationship with her family that resulted from her mother constant comparing her with her sister. A man comes with a mystery, Arnold Friend who shifts Connie from reality to fantasy and pushes her spiritually to obey him. An important motif from the text, the music, reveals the true identity of Connie and becomes a weapon used to dictate her along with Arnold Friend's voice, and Bob Dylan's song has all contributes to the central theme of the story, domination.

Have you ever had a dream that felt so real because of how much you wanted it, no? Well now i will tell you who has. “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates is an interesting and controversial short story that will leave the reader guessing. Through setting, plot, and characterization Joyce Carol oates successfully achieves the idea that Connie’s interaction with Arnold Friend is merely a dream meant to fulfill her deep desires. good.

In the short story, “Where are you going, where have you been”, by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie’s family refuses to accept her attempts to create an identity different from her older sisters; ultimately causing her to form repressed thoughts regarding her 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”,

Rape is a very serious crime that can and should result in a life sentence for the convicted (“Rape”). In “Where are you going, where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, Arnold Friend should be convicted for the rape of Connie. Friend had the means, opportunity, and motive to commit the crime -- rape. Friend had the means to commit the crime of rape on Connie. Friend left plenty of evidence that he was at the house while Connie’s parents were gone.

In the short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, the main character, Connie, is approached by a man named Arnold Friend who tries to convince her to come out of her house and go on a “date” with him. Arnold ends up controlling Connie’s mind and taking possession of her for eternity. Arnold Friend shared many of the same supernatural characteristics as the devil, including controlling and reading Connie’s mind, changing the tone of his voice at any moment, and ultimately taking possession of Connie’s soul.

“The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it,” says Albert Einstein. Reading the story, “Where are you going, Where have you been” Joyce Carol Oates follows a young teenage girl growing up in the shadows of her older sister, she was waiting for the chance to escape. Connie makes young, childish, impulsive decisions leading her to regret digging into temptation. In the story “Where are you going, Where have you been,” Oates uses characterization to develop a devil figure through the character of Arnold Friend which foreshadows Connie’s murder.

Although dreams are important, it is equally important to accept one's fate, Arnold's parents had dreams however they accepted their fate. After his talk about how poverty ruins many dreams he mentions that if “ Given the chance,” his mother “would have gone to college.”and if his father had been “ Given the chance,” he would have “become a musician.” Mary, Arnold’s sister had a dream to write and publish romance novels, but instead of following her dream she accepts her future like many of the characters in the novel. Arnold has dreams yet he did not accept his future, so he pursued his dreams instead of giving up on them like many in his family had done. In this novel dreams were used to show who someone actually was, most people in the town of Wellpinit had given up their dreams and accepted who they were. Rowdy and Arnold both had dreams that they wanted to achieve, towards the end of the book they end up accepting their future. In conclusion Dreams play a major role in the novels, however most of the dreams are left behind, and the characters accept the lives they

Within Joyce Carol Oate’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” there is a sinister character named Arnold Friend. Arnold Friend could indeed be a human, but there are a number of theories to what he actually is. Many people think he could be a demon, devil, or a satyr. However, one particular theory discussed in Professor Landis’s Literary Analysis class is that he is in fact a vampire. A vampire is said to be “a mythical being who subsists by feeding on the life essence (generally in the form of blood) of living creatures”(Vampire). Many of Arnold Friend’s characteristics could prove this theory to be true. He has a very unique wardrobe, and a menacing personality; he is eventually able to lure the main character, Connie, out of her house. Oates could have been inspired to have him represent a vampire because of myths she may have read or heard about.

(504) When Arnold removed his glasses, Connie realized that he was not the “boy” he wanted her to think he was. At that point in the story, her confidence vanished and she realized she was not safe behind her mask