Arnold Friend In Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

"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). This is an excerpt from the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” This story is from Joyce Carol Oates, written about a 15-year-old girl, Connie, and Arnold Friend whom this paper is about. From what the reader can determine from the text, Arnold Friend is a man that has been stalking Connie, for a while now. Not only is he a stalker, but he also alters his appearance to make him perceived as younger. He is a deceptive character with manipulative tactics.
One of the biggest tactics of Arnold Friend is his deception with clothing. We can infer that he uses his clothes to make himself appear younger. At the beginning of the story, Connie noticed some things about his clothes and appearance. Connie starts by noticing his sunglasses in this line. “Connie blushed a little, because the glasses made it impossible for her to see just what this boy was looking at” (Oates 3).

“Connie, you ain't telling the truth. This is your day set aside for a ride with me and you know it” (Oates 4). His tone switches and it turns more aggressive. He’s trying to convince her of things that aren't true, in an attempt to scare her into acting upon them. He’s trying to manipulate her so that she does what he wants. He wants her to come into his car so that he can do things for her. His tactics with her are more lustful than really threatening her. “Now, what you're going to do is this: you're going to come out that door…You're my date. I'm your lover, honey” (Oates 6). In this quote, he is talking to Connie in a very manipulative way trying to convince her that he is safe. He is trying to scare her and make an attempt for her to trust him. He is using terms like, “lover” and “honey”. These show his fascination with her and that he has impure