The Theme Of Connie's Identity In 'The Devil'

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This idea has been portrayed outside of this story of having a double life. This detail tells us that Connie’s identity is split: one part of her displays her emerging sexuality by changing her outfit once she leaves the grasp of her family; the other part conforms to what the authorities in her life consider proper. Throughout the beginning of the story, Connie shields her other being from her family in order to portray the image they created for her. Yet when they aren’t around, she is desperate to appeal to the other sex so she changes into clothes and applies makeup to attract their interest. It is this burgeoning inner struggle that foreshadows at Connie’s impending loss of innocence. She is starting to rebel against her family’s wishes …show more content…

The story creates the dream of Arnold Friend, which when I was rereading, was interesting. Oates creates an identity of mystery for Connie which I believed was a great way to shake up her life. As the dream progresses, Connie is gradually freed by Arnold Friend. In Connie’s dream state she creates Arnold Friend who embodies the Devil. She chooses to cast Arnold Friend as the Devil in her self-created illusion because she associates sex with sin and sin with the Devil. The Devil has many faces, usually horns growing out of his head and hooves for feet. To cover his horns, he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig. Arnold Friend also “wobbled in his high boots” due to the fact that he has stubby hooves in place of feet (240). Arnold Friend’s “whole face was a mask” to cover his true identity as the Devil (240). Connie is unable to accept the full reality of her sexual nature, but instead turns it into something evil and frightening and projects it into the form of a devil. Oates uses symbolism with fusing the idea of Arnold Friend with the devil. The Devil is symbolic of Connie’s cravings to be lustful and to have sex. Connie is overflowing with guilt at the thought of fulfilling her sinful desires. She sees Arnold Friend as an older man because she associates sex with becoming a woman and leaving her

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