Character Analysis Of Joyce Carol Oates's Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” focuses on two main characters, Connie and Arnold Friend. The two characters have extreme conflict throughout the short story and in the end only one wins. The literary device of characterization in the story helps to clarify the Greek and Biblical reasons for one character’s win and the other’s lose. In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, a Greek meaning of the character Connie has been presented in two ways, by her being a nymph and her breathing. Some researchers believe Connie to be a nymph from Greek mythology because the definition of a nymph follows suit with the character Connie. “In Greek mythology, nymphs were inferior divinities frequently

The figure he represents is a satyr. One way he represents the satyr is through his looks. Some researchers believe that Friend wears a wig because he is trying to hide his pointed ears and horns (Easterly 538). They also support the idea that he as hooves for feet, and they believe that because his feet do not go all the way down into his shoes (Easterly 538). Friend’s eyes also gives away that he is a satyr. “He wears sunglasses because his eyes, ‘like chips of broken glass’ (Oates PAGE NUMBER) reflects direct light like those of an animal” (Easterly 538). The last feature of Friend is actually the rest of his body, “He is short, with the muscular upper body, black hair, and long, hawklike nose often depicted on satyrs” (Easterly 538). Not only did his looks portray that is a satyr but also his way of attacking. The satyr attacks in a pair; “Satyr also pursued women in pairs…” (Easterly 541). Arnold Friend attacks Connie with his sidekick Ellie Oscar. A satyr also attacks women with music; “Satyrs were feared in ancient myths for their power to seduce unwary women through music” (Easterly 390). On the day that Connie and Friend meet she does not even start speaking to him till she notices the music he is playing (Easterly 390). Connie is now starting to be seduced by Friend through the music being played. Connie starts to resist Friend when she tells

Some researchers believe that the story brilliantly shows Arnold Friend as a satanic identity (Rubin 57). Most believe him to be a representation of santa because of his looks, numbers on his car, his actions, and his name. Arnold Friend gives off a devilish appearance through his hair. Connie notices that his hair is shaggy and black, like a devil. The numbers on his car also support him being a representation of the devil. “Friend’s code also contains a cryptic reference to Genesis 19:17” (Piwinski 195). The story of Abraham and the promise land is found in Genesis 19:17, the story tells about how Abraham is leaving his father’s house to go to a great land. Friend also plays off of this scripter with Connie. “Friend coaxes Connie to flee her [father’s house] …” (Piwinski 195). He also tells Connie about a great place that he will take her. “We’ll go out to a nice field, out in the country here where it smells so nice and it’s sunny” (Oates 425). The scripter further shows the friend is the devil because he gets Connie to leave her home and promises her false places that are suppose to be given to her. Arnold Friend’s actions also help to support the idea of him being a devilish figure. The devil can not enter into a home that he is unwelcome to, Arnold Friend is the same way. “Although Arnold has come to take Connie away, is his traditional role as evil spirit, he may not cross a threshold uninvited; he