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Arnold Friend Symbolism

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The definition of a fiend is an individual that is evil or is considered the devil. When I realized that taking out the letter r from “friend” would give you “fiend”, I couldn’t imagine writing it off as a coincidence. The devil is characterized as manipulative, deceitful, murderous, and alluring. Arnold Friend is the antagonist in Joyce Carol Oates, "Where are you going, where have you been?”. The protagonist, Connie, is a 15 year old girl who does not have the greatest relationship with her family and does not have a relationship with God. When Arnold Friend appears at her front door, Connie is intrigued and attracted by this man as she wishes she looked better in front of him, and Connie is a miserable teenager who wants space away from …show more content…

The “x” sign could symbolize him as the devil. To support this, it reads, “Didn't you see me put my sign in the air when you walked by?’ What sign?’ My sign.’ And he drew an X in the air, leaning out toward her” (Oates 5). Arnold consistently tells her it's “his sign”, insinuating that the X symbolizes him. Arnold Friend shows his supernatural abilities as he is aware of what is happening at the party at the moment, despite not being physically present, and knowing of the passing of the old lady that lived next door. According to the short story, it states, “Aunt Tillies. Right now they’re uh- they’re drinking. Sitting around’, he said vaguely”(Oates 6). How could he know who aunt Tillie was? He then brings up the neighbor as he says, “Hey, you know that old woman down the road, the one with chickens and stuff- you know her?” (Oates 6). How could he possibly know about the old lady and the chickens if she is already dead or not around for him to get access to that kind of information? Since he's not there to observe these occurrences that he is bringing up, this leads me to believe that he has abilities and powers similar to ones that the devil would possess. He could also be deceiving Connie with information that can appear as accurate and truthful but knows he is lying. In the Bible, it writes, “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (Kail 1), referring to the

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Arnold Friend Symbolism

1412 Words | 6 Pages

Living “just an ordinary girl’s” life was no longer the lifestyle for a girl named Connie. Once a man told her that she was gonna be his, her life turned. Connie was no longer able to forget about reality instead she was forced into adulthood by a man named Arnold Friend. Connie is the main character in the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, by Joyce Carol Oates. The story is mainly about how Arnold Friend, a sort of stalker of Connie’s, comes to her house.

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

634 Words | 3 Pages

The strongest villain we have encountered in literature thus far is Arnold Friend. Premiering in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where are you going, where have you been,” Arnold Friend is inspired by a true story. In 1960, there was a man that preyed on young girls in Arizona, later called the “Pied Piper of Tucson.” Although this man wore obviously fake makeup and clothes, he befriended the young teenage girls with his charm and sweet talk. Similar to the real man, Arnold Friend is a character that talks his way out of every question he is asked by everyone. Arnold Friend is a man of deception, hiding behind his disguise as a teenage boy, whose charisma allows him to get what he wants.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison

1190 Words | 5 Pages

It is quite possible that Connie has just invented Arnold Friend based on her love of music, at one point in the story it seems like Connie is falling asleep while listening to XYZ Sunday Jamboree and all of the sudden Arnold Friend shows up coincidently listening to the same thing. Instead of saying Arnold Friend knows Connie’s name and many things about her because he is the devil, you could say that Arnold Friend knows all of that because he is described as

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Essay

1557 Words | 7 Pages

According to McCabe and Wauchope “The most common type of relationship was that of a stranger, with 55/130 or 42% of rapist selecting a stranger as their victim” (239). While some psychopathic serial rapists may pick someone close to them or someone they know, that is not the case with Arnold Friend. In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Oates uses Arnold Friend’s stalker tendencies, use of Connie’s weaknesses, and deceiving looks to allow us to view Friend as a psychopathic serial rapist who has committed similar prior crimes. Throughout the story, Connie wants to grow up so quickly and have the attention that she thinks she wants but in reality it is nothing she could ever imagine and by doing this Oates shows

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Arnold Friend Symbolism

1595 Words | 7 Pages

“The Devil doesn’t come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you ever wished for…” -Tucker Max. This idea is certainly proven in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates. The story recounts the day of Connie, a fifteen year old girl with neglectful parents, rebellious intentions, and an infatuation for older men.

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Figurative Language In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

1033 Words | 5 Pages

And high heels” (Oates 71-71). At this point, in the short story, it is apparent that Arnold Friend is not an average person. Nobody can see exactly what everyone is doing and what they are wearing making it apparent Arnold is not a friend at all but a monster. The author also gives Arnold Friend the ability to alter one's thought process through music and his words. When Connie is around Arnold she felt “a wave of dizziness rise in her”

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Atticus Finch Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird

1069 Words | 5 Pages

Not only did this symbol reflect the title of the novel, but it symbolized numerous characters as well. One of these characters was Tom Robinson, a black man who was accused of raping a white girl and was expected to face her in court. He appeared to be vile and guilty to the town due to his skin color, where in reality he was a kind, caring, and respectable man. Nevertheless, the white judge dismissed these fine qualities and erroneously declared him guilty sentencing him to the electric chair. However, Tom’s attempt to escape the prison resulted in him getting shot and killed, “‘Seventeen bullet holes in him.

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Arnold Friend Theme

413 Words | 2 Pages

For example, Connie listened to the music that made everything even good, “ the music was always in the background like music at a church service, it was something to depend upon”. And, it is music that lures Connie, just as many teens of Dylan 's era were lured by his lyrics and music, although Ms. Oates does not perceive Dylan 's as subversive or dangerous. Interestingly, however, to deceive Connie, Arnold Friend mimics Dylan in the

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character

890 Words | 4 Pages

Arnold Friend was there to take Connie away; away from her childhood and home, which never quite felt like home until her fantasy world deteriorated and reality set it. The next moment is pivotal, this is when Connie forgets her hedonism and becomes something of much more substance. Before Connie studies Arnold Friend’s abnormal personality and erratic behavior she is fascinated by him and even worries that she is ill prepared for this

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis

694 Words | 3 Pages

Oates’s biography explained her fiction writing as a mixture violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely fits the plot point of this story with both of her literary ingredients being present in not only Arnold Friend but in Connie as well. The Protagonist Connie is presented in a very self-centered way. She is obsessed with her looks and often fantasizes about all the boys she meets.

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Irony And Symbolism In Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

477 Words | 2 Pages

The Meanings behind the Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter, the letter “A” becomes a lot more than a part of the alphabet. The letter “A” is a symbol that has many different meanings throughout the scarlet letter. The letter “A” was used as the symbol of sin which was adultery. The people who committed the sin were Hester Prynne and Dimmesdale.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Analysis

817 Words | 4 Pages

This clairvoyance also points to the fact that he may be a demonic creature. Connie never actually tells Arnold her name but he somehow already knows it. The last detail that points to Arnold being a demonic being is his mind control over Connie. For some reason she is unable to dial for the police.

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Examples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

854 Words | 4 Pages

He tries to seduce and persuade her to go with him for a ride similar to how the Devil lured Eve with a shiny and mysterious apple. Oates displays evidence of biblical allusions regarding Arnold Friend’s appearance and persona in the story by depicting his physical characteristics, his supernatural knowledge, and his demeanor as an image of evil. Connie wants to be desired for her sexuality and Arnold possesses this by his tone throughout the story. His appearance comes

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906 Words | 4 Pages

In regards to second hand smoking, many gain negative health related effects like severe asthma and even lead to lung cancer. In addition, therefore as a country there must be more specific regulations on smoking nearby others that don’t smoke themselves or don’t pressure others to smoke with them. Taking action is what needs to happen in order to protect younger children from developing these harmful effects. This position on second hand smoking is being taken because there are many that have been affected by asthma or other health defects that slim down what you can do in life. “On a national level, several laws restricting smoking in public places have passed...Some states have passed laws regulating smoking in multiunit housing and cars.

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The Symbolism Of 'A' In The Scarlet Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne

959 Words | 4 Pages

With Hester changing her ways and helping the poor, the community changed, “They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength” (Hawthorne 168). While the community originally viewed the “A” as a symbol of sin, they began to see it too as a symbol of being “Able” because all that Hester Prynne had overcome. The Scarlet Letter had many examples of symbolism, but none were more significant that the letter “A”

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