Arnold Friend Essay

and her best friend went to a well-known restaurant. When walking to a boy's car, Connie saw a good-looking guy standing next to a car; the attractive man said to her, "Gonna get you, baby." A few days later while Connie was home alone a car pulled up in her driveway, the owner looked familiar. His name was Arnold Friend, an older man who knew everything about everyone. Arnold Friend knew Connie's name, where she lived, what her family was doing, and that she was home alone. Arnold insisted that

back and forth of Arnold Friend’s attempts at convincing Connie to be compliant, and go with him, and an increasingly freaked-out Connie trying to back her way out of this random, quite crazy situation turned dire. The story ends in her leaving the safety of her home willingly, in what seems to be an unclear-headed state. This story may sound like your typical kidnapping, serial killer documentary-style headliner, but there are hints — foreshadowing the suspicion that Arnold Friend is not the person

psychological rollercoaster of manipulation and interpretive meanings. Although the antagonistic character of Arnold Friend could be viewed as a blank vessel to represent violence or even sexual attraction, his off-putting mannerisms and unnerving persistence seems to have a sinister backing, which leads me to believe that Arnold is the personification of the devil. The first introduction to Arnold takes place at a local diner, where Connie, our fifteen-year-old protagonist, is on a date. As Connie begins

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

Been, Where Are You Going? written by Joyce Oates, Arnold Friend plays a significant role in the short story by posing as the antagonist. The setting of the story takes place in the 1970’s when the Sexual Revolution begins and teenagers begin to rebel against their parents, and Arnold is a valid comparison to temptation arising with teenagers during this time period as he tempts Connie. Throughout the short story, many characteristics of Arnold Friend, his way of style, and car imply that he symbolizes

doesn’t appear to be with them for more than one night to the friends she goes out with that the

concerned with her hair and “how bad she looked” (Lawn 372). She may have had a chance here to call the police before even making any contact with Arnold. She chose instead to come to the door and entertain the uninvited guests. She only really began to realize the danger she was in when she noticed that Ellie, Arnold’s passenger, looked to be even older than Arnold, about forty (Lawn 377). Only then does she consider calling the police, but unfortunately it is already too late. When she does make the dash

You Going, Where Have You Been?” The invasion of space plays an important role in Connie’s life. Her home symbolize how vulnerable she is. However, Arnold Friend invaded both Connie’s home and family. Nonetheless, Arnold Friend did not only invade Connie’s home and family, he violated her life, innocence, and private thoughts. In other words, Arnold Friend has closed all the doors of childhood, identity, and innocence in Connie’s life by seducing her into entering the dangerous world of adulthood (66-67)

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. Connie is illustrated as a basic carefree 15 year old who is trying to find herself. Connie’s constantly “craning her neck to glance in the mirrors” to check if her appearance is acceptable (157). She would also “check other people’s faces to make sure her own was right”

for the entirety of the story, demonstrating how she falls into temptation. When Arnold Friend came to her house after her family left, she was tempted to make herself look good in order to appease him. On the third page, Arnold Friend and Connie have a conversation which goes, “I don’t even know who you are”/ [...]/ “you want to come for a ride” he said./ Connie smirked and let her hair fall loose over