Arnold Friend Stereotypes

Connie starts out in the story as someone that is self-absorbed, concerned for no one but herself. Arnold Friend is really the same way. He tells her that he saw her “that night and thought, that’s the one” (Oates 480). In spite of the words he uses, the reader knows that Arnold does not have any true feelings for Connie because he says “My sweet little blue-eyed girl” (Oates 483). Arnold is oblivious to the fact that Connie has brown eyes. “In Arnold’s view, Connie’s personal identity is totally unimportant” (Wegs 3).

Throughout the novel the use of rhetorical devices seems prevalent as Joyce Carol Oates utilizes it to convey a meaning. Her use of stylistic devices enhances and provokes the reader’s understanding of the unique piece of writing. A rhetorical device that is used consistently throughout Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? is irony. Arnold’s last name is ironic since he resembles the exact opposite. When Arnold introduces himself to Connie he states,“I’m Arnold Friend…

In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” we are faced with a stalker-like, demonic man who becomes obsessed with a young teenage girl. This is all too common in reality where we face rapist, stalkers, and murders so the average reader would probably believe he has intimidated this young, naïve girl into allowing herself to be kidnapped. But some may agree that Connie was intimidated and forced into leaving with Arnold Friend, while other may think this was a satisfaction of her fantasies. According to Oates, “Connie couldn’t do a thing, her mind was all filled with trashy daydreams” (Oates Web), those of which were more than likely daydreams filled with thoughts of boys as well as being somewhere far away from her much hated household. Arnold comes along and grants Connie with a proposition of taking her far away from the home she hated and making her seem above her family, he says “…you’re better than them because not a one of them would have done this for you.” Connie is not excited about what is taking place, in fact she feels empty and emotionless at this point, but in a strange, disgusting, creepy way Connie has gotten exactly what she wanted in the beginning which was a guy to be obsessed with her and could take her away from her what she once believed to be the worst life

In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” Connie, the main character, is already struggling with many things in life and sneaks her way to date guys. There was also conflicting between her and her mother due to her mother favoring her sister, June and describing her as someone who is a good example of what she wants Connie to be. Her father is never at home due to work and when he is home, the girls do not relate to him. Arnold Friend is described as a dangerous figure with his pale complexion and his slick black hair looking like trouble by not presenting himself in a pleasing way to Connie, by not walking properly. This was an indication on how he was not in the right state of mind and how Arnold shouldn’t be near Connie. There was one scene in the story where Arnold Friend shows up, uninvited, notifying Connie that he is not a friend, but has come to take her away from her home to possibly kidnap her. "Connie felt a wave of dizziness, rise in her at this sight and she stared at him as if waiting for something to change the shock of the moment, make it alright again”. Connie feels safe in the house and does not come out until Arnold convinces and demands her that she come out. Things took an unpleasant twist when Arnold tells Connie not use the phone or he will break his promise of not coming in the house

If not thought about or read over more than once, the fact that Connie’s father was almost a phantom in her life might be missed. In this era, fathers in particular were not very active in their children’s lives, daughters especially; they were the mother’s problem. This same idea carries over to the father of Connie’s best girlfriend, who after driving them to the stores or movies “…never even bothered to ask what they had done.” (Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"), the name of the story is also a question that should be asked of any daughter by her father. The fathers in question here display a sense of total apathy to the question of what their daughters are actually doing. These fathers came from a time in the 40’s and 50’s when men worried about men things and woman issues were exactly that. Men and in particular fathers of that time made no effort to be involved in their daughters lives as they are today. Oates noticed that issue in society and attached it to her work in this story although minutely. The main conflict in Connie’s life is trying to balance a fine line between the way she acts at home in front of her mother, and her secret wild side which she only shows to her friends and the boys she meets. Oates’ characterization of Connie is that of a round character, one of intense

The characterizations of Connie’s family members have great effects on Connie. And Connie’s mother’s characterization is the main motivator for Connie’s rebellion. She always compares Connie with June, who is the “ideal daughter” in her eyes, and blames Connie for some little things, such as improper dressing and not having a tidy room. Oates suggests that the reason for Connie’s mother prohibiting Connie to dress up like an adult is that “ Her mother had been pretty once too” (Oates 1), but now “her looks were gone and that was why she always after Connie” (Oates 1). Therefore, she is jealous about Connie’s beauty and feels uncomfortable when seeing Connie wear beautiful outfits. Meanwhile, she likes June so much because June is obedient and plain, which makes her feel that she is dominant in the relationship. In the short story, Connie’s father is not given much description by the author, but

The characterizations of Connie’s family members have great effects on Connie. And onnie’s mother’s characterization is the main motivator for Connie’s rebellion. She always compares Connie with June, who is the “ideal daughter” in her eyes, and blames Connie for some little things, such as improper dressing and not having a tidy room. Oates suggests that the reason for Connie’s mother prohibiting Connie to dress up like an adult is that “ Her mother had been pretty once too” (Oates 1), but now “her looks were gone and that was why she always after Connie” (Oates 1). Therefore, she is jealous about Connie’s beauty and feels uncomfortable when seeing Connie wear beautiful outfits. Meanwhile, she likes June so much because June is obedient and plain, which makes her feel that she is dominant in the relationship. In the short story, Connie’s father is not given much description by the author, but his characterization has an effect on Connie as well. The irresponsible father spends little time with family and seldom has conversations to his daughters. When hearing his wife’s complain about Connie, he just bends his head with saying nothing, which makes Connie feels ignored and lonely. Urbanski states that “The father, who spent most of his time at work, is weak” (Urbanski 200) to reveals the father is not an active figure in his daughter’s life. Therefore, lacking of the company and communication of family members, Connie becomes upset. In addition, Connie’s sister June, who has the opposite characterization, is also one of the reasons for Connie’s rebellion. In Connie’s eyes, June is a

The interaction between Connie and Friend start when Friend shows up to Connie’s house uninvited. The author Oates states “After a while she heard a car coming up the drive. She sat up at once, startled, because it couldn't be her father so soon. . . It was a car she didn't know,” (qtd. Oates. pg.2) Connie’s first reaction was to evaluate how good she looked instead of finding out whether Friend was somebody she knew or not. When they finally come face to face, she was met with flirtatious small talk from Friend, who exclaimed “Don’tcha like my car? New paint job,… You're cute” (qtd. Oates. pg.3) Connie is in awe of his faded pants and his huge black dark boots and actually considers getting in the car as he requested. The awe of the mysterious however, rapidly shifted as he makes demands and threats due to Connie’s refusal to get in the car with him. Alarmed, Connie tries to put a call. Arnold request that she come out of the house and if she doesn't comply to his demands she and her family are going to “get it”. Slowly, Connie begins to realize that there's something off about Arnold Friend. He looks to be wearing a wig, and he's

Initially, when Connie sees Arnold’s car on the street, she’s excited, she wants to meet whoever is driving, even carefully flirting with him in the beginning. However, as she talks with him, she slowly realizes he’s not the “cool guy” she first thought he was. Some details about him, from his hair to his shoes and his way of talking, seem oddly displaced, she tries to evaluate him “but all these things [don’t] come together.” (325) Despite her awareness of the danger awakening, it is too late; Arnold’s deceiving appearance induced a false sense of safety long enough for him to have power over her. Even more, the mere name of Arnold is misleading, the irony between “Friend” and his horrible behaviour taking all its meaning at the end of the story. As Arnold true personality and the danger he represents are revealed, the deceiving nature of his appearance is

As seen throughout the story, those who are younger are portrayed as powerless and looked down upon. This is mostly defined in Connie as she struggles to reach maturity. At home, she is viewed as a young, immature child who cannot do anything. “’Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? […] you don’t see your sister using that junk’ […] Connie had to hear [June] praised all the time by her mother and her mother’s sisters” (Oates). As shown, Connie is viewed as a child in the eyes of her family. Her mother constantly assumes dominance over her by berating her. “Connie wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over” (Oates). As a symbol of youth in the house hold, she resents her mother and sister because they symbolize the figure of power and maturity that she desires. Not only is this lack

The first perception of someone can sometimes be the complete opposite of who he really is. People fantasize or imagine perception of others they believe to be. In the short story “Where Are You, Where Have You Been”, Joy Oates mixes what is real and fantasy and it conflicts with the help of symbols. Symbols point out that Arnold Friend is anything but dangerous and a predator to Connie’s innocence and vulnerability. Connie realizes that her oblivion came to an abrupt end.

In the story, Oates uses interior monologue and third person limited omniscient narration to show how her parents neglect contributes to Connie’s vulnerability and how Arnold Friend is successful in his strategies of seduction. It’s obvious that Connie’s parents always have neglected her. Her mom is always evaluating her and critiquing her physical appearance. She is continuously comparing her to her sister June and Connie feels like she can never be on the same level as June. Since her sister is responsible and respectful Connie gets a great deal of freedom. Her dad has no sense to watch over or protect Connie, he just comes home and goes to bed, isn't curious about what is going on, he is extremely disengaged from her life. Connie thinks

In Joyce Carol Oates “Where are you going, Where have you been” Connie is a typical teenage girl, she is pretty but cocky. She seems to be extremely normal, she fights with her sister, disagrees with her mom, she enjoys music, & goes out with friends. Everything is normal in her life until on night she is out with her friend. This is the night she meets Arnold Friend, a mysterious stranger, she can’t quit looking back at Arnold, something about him just draws her attention. Arnold seemed like a creep from the beginning. The first time he ever saw Connie “He wagged a finger and laughed and said, “gonna get you, baby.”” Connie forgot all about the creepy guy from the parking lot until one day while her parents were gone to a barbeque, she heard

Oates begins the story depicting an image of Connie, the protagonist in the story, and her narcissism, how “she had a quick, nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors, or checking other peoples faces, to make sure her own was all right.” (Kirszner 453). Connie’s mother is always getting on to her about being so artificial and comparing Connie to her older sister, age 24, June. June does not spend a lot of time on her looks, she holds a good job, cleans the house, and retains a good relationship with their mother. Connie, on the other hand, does not have a good relationship with her mother, and at one point she even wishes her mother dead as well as herself (Kirszner 453). The father works all the time and during the time he is home for dinner, he reads the newspaper and then goes to bed (Kirszner 453). The relationship with the father is almost

The fictional story “where are you going where have you been” by Joyce Carol Oates follows the life of Connie. Connie is a young 15-year-old girl. Like most girls, she was very self-conscious. Not because she didn’t think she was pretty but because she always wanted to make sure others thought she was. “She was fifteen and she had a quick, nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was all right” (Oates, 157) She loved going out with friends to hang out with older teenagers. Connie and her friends loved the feeling of getting attention, but what they loved most was feeling in control of the attention. If a boy tried talking to them their favorite thing was to turn away and ignore him. Soon enough she would meet someone that she couldn’t just turn away and giggle about. Connie falls prey to the sexual predator Arnold Friend. She was an innocent girl in the begging of the story, but that all changed after she met Mr. Friend. His spine chilling methods of seduction and persuasion were just a few of his creepy features. He used this in addition to scare tactics to convince Connie to leave with him. Oates clearly shows how Arnold Friend selected Connie as his victim, seduced her, and ultimately persuaded her to leave with him.