The Malevolent Forces Arnold Friend Represents
"Connie, don't fool around with me. I mean—I mean, don't fool around," he said, shaking his head. He laughed incredulously. He placed his sunglasses on top of his head, carefully, as if he were indeed wearing a wig…” (Oates 6). Joyce Carol Oates’ short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” highlights an altercation, meeting, conflict and dispute between a teenage girl, named Connie, and a psychotic rapist named Arnold Friend. Throughout their altercation, Arnold Friend tempts and encourages Connie to get in the car with him and lead her to a variety of possible dangerous situations, one of which includes her getting raped . There is no doubt that Joyce Carol Oates’ uses Arnold Friend in her short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” to symbolize the Devil and embody all of the evil and sinister forces that are present in our world. This becomes apparent when the reader focuses on how deranged Arnold Friend is and begins to
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notice his satanic abilities and appearance. During the altercation between Connie and Arnold, Arnold is vigilantly attempting to trick Connie to get into the car with him. Not only is he asking her too, but he is putting in an extreme amount of effort in order to make her give into temptation and accompany him on a car ride. He begs Connie and also plays her favorite music and compliments her on how she looks. Arnold Friend not only plays her favorite music and offers her the attention and longing she so desperately desires, but he also uses the slang and lingo of the younger generation in order to appear to be up to date and knowledgeable about the youth’s culture. Arnold Friend does this in order to keep his victims, like Connie, from noticing the large age difference between them. Through all of these actions, one could classify Arnold Friend as the embodiment of temptation that is often associated with the Devil, this desire to tempt others helps reveal his true identity as Satan himself. When Connie realizes that there is something mysterious and unsettling about Arnold and his friend, she declines their offer to join them on their joyride. This is when Arnold starts to have a threatening demeanor and becomes more demanding. His tone begins to change and he no longer asks if Connie will go with him, he begins to demand it. He begins saying things such as “‘soon as you touch the phone I don't need to keep my promise and can come inside. You won't want that’” (Oates 7). He becomes much more dangerous and malevolent when Connie threatens to call the police on Arnold and his friend if they do not leave their house. Arnold is no longer asking that she come with him. He is demanding it and as Jane Barstow points out in her literary analysis, if she does not go with him, he will kill her entire family, which proves that he truly has a wicked heart and serves as a dangerous and potential threat to not only Connie, but also her family (Barstow 2). After a while, it starts to become clear what Arnold’s true motives are. Arnold does not just want to have Connie go for a car ride, he wants to take her and harm her in a variety of possible ways, including the possibility of raping her. “Joyce Carol Oate’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a story about beginnings and passage points; and it is a story about endings: the end of childhood, the end of innocence. The account of a fifteen-year-old Connie’s encounter with a mysterious stranger named Arnold Friend, a man who leads his victim not to a promising new world, but, rather, to a violent sexual assault.” (Gillis 5) Arnold Friend makes it explicitly clear that he does not only want to take Connie on a ride around town, but he also wants to have sexual intercourse with her when he reveals that he wants to “come inside [her] where it's all secret and [make her] give in to [him] and love [him]” (Oates 6), and when she begins to deny him of his request, that is when he starts to become more predatory. Together, Arnold Friend’s desire to tempt Connie into joining him in the car along with his longing to do her harm so he can gain personal pleasure is representative of the evil and wickedness that plagues society and our world. Notably, throughout the entirety of the short story, Arnold Friend, like the Devil, also has the ability to channel supernatural powers.
It is mentioned multiple times that Arnold knows “‘lots of things’” (Oates 3). Not only does he know Connie, but he is able to list off a number of kids even though he himself is not from around there. Arnold is even able to call Connie on her bluff and confidently state that Connie’s family will not be coming back for her, and that they are at “‘Aunt Tillie’s sitting around drinking’” (Oates 6). The only way Arnold would be able to know exactly where and what Connie’s family is doing would be that he has supernatural powers— abilities that are commonly associated with the Devil. This theory is even more feasible when you realize that author stated that “‘Arnold Friend is a fantastic figure: he is Death, he is the 'elf-knight' of the ballads, he is the Imagination, he is a Dream, he is a Lover, a Demon, and all that.’” (Coulthard
3). Their altercation and dispute becomes unsettling when he acts as if he knows exactly what is going to happen, and that he knows everything about Connie and her family and other kids around the area even though there is no way he could know anything about them. But, not only does Arnold know everyone and have the ability to know exactly where and what people are doing at any given moment, he also has the ability to speak through the voices of other people. When Connie first begins to decline Arnold’s offer he begins to take a dark turn and speak through the “voice of the man on the radio” (Oates 5). Connie was even able to recognize and note that “It was the same voice” (Oates 5). Arnold changes his voice a final time once becoming irritated with Connie and states that she “better step out here” (Oates 5) in a flatter, more eerie tone. These actions further reveal Arnold Friend’s identity as the devil. The fact that Oates chose to have the Devil personified in her story gives even more importance and adds an increasing severity to the villainous nature of the world that she is trying to shed light on. Throughout Arnold and Connie’s altercation, suggestions are constantly made that he resembles the Devil. He is described to be a boy who at first, looked to be about Connie’s age, but in reality is much older. He is also described in a very suggestive way that gives off the feeling that he is hiding something. When Connie first meets Arnold, it is said that “he [has] shaggy, shabby black hair that [looks] crazy as a wig” (Oates 2). It is later said that “he placed his sunglasses on top of his head, carefully, as if he were indeed wearing a wig” (Oates 5) which leads us to believe that he is in fact wearing a wig. Stephen Slimp expands upon this by saying that with the belief that Arnold is the Devil, he could very easily be hiding his horns under the wig if he matches the traditional belief that the Devil appears to be part human and part animal with hooves and horns (Slimp 3). If this theory were to be true, it would make understanding his capability to commit such dark deeds and use powers only the supernatural have much easier to understand. It gives room for Arnold to harness and use the dark arts and satanic power to his ability and further help him kidnap fifteen year old Connie. Connie also states that “He stood there so stiffly relaxed, pretending to be relaxed, with one hand idly on the door handle as if he were keeping himself up that way and had no intention of ever moving again” (Oates 4). She also mentions that his feet might not go all the way down his boots which causes him to have a hard time balancing himself. This leads the reader to believe that if Arnold takes on the traditional appearance of Satan, he would have a hard time maintaining a normal posture and his balance with hooves stuffed into shoes. If he were to have hooves he would not have toes that could help him maintain his balance and completely fill his shoes. This theory could also go on to prove exactly why “one of his boots [were] at a strange angle, as if his foot wasn't in it” (Oates 7). When trying to uncover what exactly Arnold Friend is, it is extremely important to focus on the identity of his sidekick, Ellie Oscar. Whenever the reader is first introduced to the character Ellie Oscar, Connie does not pay very much attention to him and very little description is given. It is said that “he wore a bright orange shirt unbuttoned halfway to show his chest, which was a pale, bluish chest and not muscular like Arnold Friend's. His shirt collar was turned up all around and the very tips of the collar pointed out past his chin as if they were protecting him” (Oates 4). Ellie is also described as having “a fair, hairless face, cheeks reddened slightly as if the veins grew too close to the surface of his skin, the face of a forty-year-old baby” (Oates 4). The description that is given for Ellie is very odd and specific. The way his clothes are described make you feel like he is protecting his pale skin from the sun, something vampires have been known to do. Ellie Oscar could very easily be a vampire. He accompanies the Devil and holds the same capacity for evil and the same potential to become a threat. The reader is first informed of Ellie’s dangerous and evil side when he offers to “pull out the phone” (Oates 7). Alice Hall Petry argues that Ellie is a vulnerable, sinister and evil male who uses current popular music and an Elvis Presley vibe to draw in teens to their potential rape and murder (Petry 2). It also makes sense for Ellie to be a vampire. Vampires are monsters and they are believed to come from Hell or the underworld. It becomes obvious that Ellie Oscar is in fact a vampire when connecting Oates’ subtle hints. With the need to protect one’s pale skin and the same capacity to hurt others, there is no way Ellie Oscar can not be a vampire. There is no doubt that Arnold Friend is in fact the Devil. He is the embodiment of sin and all that is evil. Throughout the story he tempts and encourages Connie to adventure off with him to her potential rape and when she denies him, he becomes hostile and states that he “ain’t leaving until [she goes] with [him]” (Oates 5). Not only that, but he also begins to threaten her and her family and says that she should not “fool around with [him because he] don’t fool around” (Oates 5). Arnold Friend is not only the antagonist and represents the Devil in this story, but he serves as symbolic figure that represents all of the evil and sinister forces that are present in our world.
Oates uses a great number of symbols in her short story "Where are you going? Where have you been? to create an aura of unease and Devilishness. Her principal symbols are Arnold Friend, his disguise, and the music Connie listens to. Oates' use of symbolism and Biblical allusions to Satan force the reader to raise an eyebrow to the character of Arnold Friend and the doomed future of Connie.
Arnold Friend is an important character in Connie’s story because he is one of the main reasons she goes undergoes a change. In short, while Connie is going through a teenage phase of exploring sexuality, he comes to Connie’s house to take her with the intention of raping her. More importantly he is portrayed with some of devilish appearances and behavior, to stress the idea of the situation Connie has gotten into and the meaning of her transition. The devil archetype is seen as an evil character that embodies devil characteristics as well as tempting the protagonist with things that will ruin their soul. Thesis Statement!!!! Some evidence that Arnold Friend is the devil incarnate are the facts that he does not cross threshold, he seems to be all-knowing and he has to tempt and persuade Connie to leave with him.
In Joyce Carol Oates’, “ Where are You going Where have you been,” it was a sunday morning when Arnold continues another one of his daily routines. The main girl, Connie, is a self-centered and shy girl, whose mother is always puts her in the background and makes her feel excluded. For instance, her mother says rude comments like “you think your so pretty” and “you don't see your sister using that junk” (1). Then a guy came into her life. “Where are You Going Where Have You been illustrates a man who uses charms and good looks to get young or middle aged women to satisfy himself, but with this one girl he has some trouble along the way.
In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” written by Joyce Carol Oats, the writer includes a very interesting character. One of the main characters, Arnold Friend, is a dynamic character due to the sudden changes of this physical appearance and personality. At first he seems charming and a little on the sweet side, but then his dark side starts to show as the story progresses. He first appears when Connie abandons her friend to go with a boy named Eddie. Arnold is seen in his gold convertible Jalopy, which is the first sign that he wants to be alluring. His first words in the story are "Gonna get you, baby" this foreshadows his intentions when it comes to Connie
There are many notorious characters in literature, all with their own menacing qualities and depraved actions. None, however, have struck such a devastatingly creepy chord as Arnold Friend of Joyce Carol Oates "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Seducer of young girls and embodiment of Lucifer, Arnold Friend is anything but a friend. Arnold Friend is presented through both actions and appearances, and these combine to diminish his likeability, while adding to his devilish persona. Although Arnold Friend's traits are never stated outright, they are presented through his speech and interaction with other characters, which ultimately creates a more impacting effect and lasting impression.
In the story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” Arnold Friend is depicted as the antagonist of the book, trying to seduce Connie into going with him on a ride. He could be shown as an evil person intent on doing harm to Connie, but by the way Oates wrote the book you can almost feel the frustration building up in him as Connie keeps denying him the satisfaction of Connie saying yes. This can essence can be felt when Arnold Friend “wobbled again and out of the side of his mouth came a fast spat curse, an aside not meant for [Connie] to hear. But even this ‘Christ!’ sounded forced. Then he began to smile again,” As if Arnold friend is trying to hide something from Connie, “She watched this smile...
The overuse of biblical allusions throughout the story helps to expose the naive nature of Connie that reveals her as a victim of evil which shows that lust often transgresses on an individual’s identity. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Carol Oates expressed the subjective ideas by symbolizing Arnold Friend as a devil that tempts a clueless teenage girl Connie, who wanted to experience love.
In “Where are You Going, Where Have you Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses an allegorical figure of evil to illustrate the theme of temptation. Oates alludes to hell through the character Arnold Friend, as the devil, and his victim Connie, who invites him in by committing the sin of vanity.
Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is about a young girl's struggle to escape reality while defying authority and portraying herself as a beauty queen; ultimately, she is forced back to reality when confronted by a man who symbolizes her demise. The young girl, Connie, is hell- bent on not becoming like her mother or sister. She feels she is above them because she is prettier. She wants to live in a "dream world" where she listens to music all day and lives with Prince Charming. She does not encounter Prince Charming but is visited by someone, Arnold Friend, who embodies the soul of something evil. Arnold Friend symbolizes "Death" in that he is going to take Connie away from the world she once knew. Even if she is not dead, she will never be the same person again, and will be dead in spirit. With the incorporation of irony, Oates illustrates how Connie's self-infatuation, her sole reason for living, is the reason she is faced with such a terrible situation possibly ending her life.
Joyce Carol Oates intrigues readers in her fictional piece “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by examining the life of a fifteen year old girl. She is beautiful, and her name is Connie. Oates lets the reader know that “everything about her [Connie] had two sides to it, one for home, and one for anywhere but home (27). When Connie goes out, she acts and dresses more mature than she probably should. However, when she is at home, she spends the majority of her time absorbed with daydreams “about the boys she met”(28). This daydreaming behavior is observable to the reader throughout the story. From theories about dreams, theories about subconscious thought, and the clues that Oates provides, the reader is lead to believe that Connie’s experience with Arnold Friend is a nightmare used to awaken her to the consequences that her behavior could result in.
Connie's actions also played a big role in her abduction. Connie liked to go out and hang out with guys. She liked to hang out with different guys, not the same one every night. Guys talk about girls like this and spread nasty rumors about them. These rumors probably did not escape the ears of Arnold Friend. So even before he saw Connie for the first time he probably had the idea that she was easy. He said as much towards the end of the story when he started naming people she knew and telling her that they told him things about her (Oates 983).
The mysterious Arnold Friend goes to Connie’s house. He tries to convince Connie to take a ride in his car. Most people will deny the offer, but seeing as though Connie is unruly, she is easily persuaded by Arnold . Arnold deceives Connie with his charm and ride. He takes her to a place where she does not know. We find that Mr. Friend is not so friendly, but a sick soul with a loose tongue. In addition to this I agree with author Christina Marsden Gills of “Short Story Criticism, vol.6” when she explains that:
She immediately trusts him because they simply like the same radio station. The young girl has proven throughout the story that she is curious about sex. The reader also learns that she loves attention and Connie initially finds the attention that she is receiving by Friend to be rather flattering and the fact that she thinks he’s an older boy intrigues even more. Her fate though, seems to fit the extremist world in which she inhabits. A habitat where women are viewed by men as objects of beauty for their consumption. Connie later realizes that something is odd about Arnold. She notices that the slogans on his car are outdated. She notices his painted face, his wig, and his boots. Susan Nyikos was another writer that wrote an analysis on Where are you going, where have you been. She suggested that the reason Connie realized this was because he was only a figment of her imagination and that she had never awaken from her nap. Nyikos also noted that another critic stated that Arnold Friend was the devil and that’s what explained the hooves hidden by the boots. What Susan mainly argued was that “Like many of Oates's stories, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is based on real events—the story of a "tabloid psychopath known as 'The Pied Piper of Tucson'" whose specialty was the seduction and occasional murder of teen-aged girls,"
In the short story “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?”, by Joyce Carol Oates, the use of the symbolism of Connie’s clothes, her fascination with her beauty, Arnold Friend’s car and Arnold Friend himself help to understand the story’s theme of evil and manipulation. The story, peppered with underlying tones of evil, finds Oates writing about 15-year-old Connie, the protagonist of the story, a pretty girl who is a little too into her own attractiveness, which eventually gets her into trouble with a man named Arnold Friend. The story is liberally doused with symbolism, from the way Connie dresses to the shoes on Arnold Friend’s feet. In “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” the reader can pick up on some of the symbols very easily, while others need deeper thought. The subtle hints of symbolism throughout the story create a riveting tale that draws the reader in. Connie finally succumbs to Arnold Friend at the end of the story, it then becomes obvious that he represents the devil and the symbolism of her clothing and Arnold’s car all tie together to create a better understanding of the story.
Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” tells the tale of a fifteen year old girl named Connie living in the early 1960’s who is stalked and ultimately abducted by a man who calls himself Arnold Friend. The short story is based on a true event, but has been analyzed by many literary scholars and allegedly possesses numerous underlying themes. Two of the most popular interpretations of the story are that the entire scenario is only dreamt by Connie (Rubin, 58) and that the abductor is really the devil in disguise (Easterly, 537). But the truth is that sometimes people really can just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Connie, a victim of terrifying circumstance will be forever changed by her interactions with Friend.