Arnold Friend Character Analysis

Although Connie works at presenting the illusion of being a mature woman who is experienced with men, her encounter with Arnold reveals that this is only a misconception. She has created this attractive adultlike persona through her clothing, hairstyle, and general behavior and gets the attention she wants from boys. But Connie confuses her ability to grasp attention from boys with her desire to have them pursue her in a sexual way. The love and romance are obvious in the songs she listens to and images of pop culture that surround her are much different from the reality of adult passion. It seems apparent Connie does experiment with adult passion, such as when she goes into the alley with Eddie, but she is fearful of becoming an adult. Arnold

As a teenager, she is dependent on the adults in her life for care and discipline as well as for enabling her social life. Her friend’s father, for example, drives her and her friend, June, to the movie theater. Although Connie often fights against her family, particularly her mother and sister, they constitute the only life she really knows. Her experiments with creating a sexy appearance and alluring boys in the local diner serve as her attempt to explore new worlds as well as a new side of herself. However, until Arnold Friend arrives, her explorations have always been wrapped in safety. She may go into an alley with a boy for a few hours, but no matter what happens there, she will eventually be driven back home to the ease of her

Connie has two different and distinct sides to her, "one for home and one for anywhere that was not home" (126). She is aware of the duality and deliberately behaves in one capacity while at home and in another when away from home. At home Connie is still a child, but when away from home Connie believes herself more mature. When Connie is home, she acts with some restraint by hiding and putting aside her more sexual self. Her mother disapproves of this side and describes Connie as having her mind "filled with trashy daydreams" (126). When Connie and her friends go out, she dresses, walks, and talks differently as she attempts to attract male attention. The screen door is, also, the barrier between safety and harm—or evil. Inside the door Connie is safe; outside she is not. While talking initially with Arnold Friend, Connie remains inside although very close to outside, with the door open. She is almost ready to go away and leave the house and her youth behind. As the conversation continues and Connie remains unsure, she grows cautious and retreats inside the house. Here she needs the barrier and senses she needs more protection. When Connie fully realizes Arnold Friend's evil intentions, she tries to lock the screen door. Arnold then says to Connie, "It's just a screen door. It's just nothing" (134). The door that had once been the separation between Connie's youth and the maturity she seeks is no longer an effective barrier,