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Character Analysis Of Arnold Friend In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'

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John Locke, a famous philosopher, once said,“I have always thought the actions of men are the best interpreters of their thoughts.” People are not always who they seem, and their true self is revealed through their actions. In Joyce Carol Oates’s suspenseful short story, ”Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” antagonist, Arnold Friend, uses faustian tactics such as flattery, fear, and lies to manipulate and overpower the protagonist, Connie. Equivalent to the Devil, Arnold Friend uses flattery to deceive Connie. Throughout the story it is evident that Connie is suffering from a deficient amount of attention from home. Arnold Friend notices it, then takes advantage of this when he says, “I took a special interest in you, such a pretty …show more content…

Arnold’s appearance is the biggest faustian lie that he uses. From his head to toes and all the way to his car. “The boots must have been stuffed with something so he would seem taller,” this is evidence that he is trying to trick Connie into believing he is someone he is not in order to make her interested. Many stories are of the Devil using trickery to manipulate his image to be someone else, which Arnold Friend definitely does. In addition to presenting himself as someone he’s not, the car within the story is also an extended metaphor for him. The description of the car states, “It was an open jalopy, painted a bright gold…” Gold signifies wealth and a satisfying appearance just like he is trying to portray. The car being described as jalopy shows how it is flaky and ruined just like Arnold Friend is. You can’t cover dents and scratches with a coat of paint, the faults will always show through. It is said that actions speak louder than words and it is true. Through the short story written by Joyce Carol Oates, the character Arnold friend displays his devil like qualities through: adoration, terror, and dishonesty. You never know people's intentions or what their motives are, so either be cautious or learn how to read

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Arnold Friend, the antagonist in Joyce Carol Oates’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” represents the devil who arrives to bring Connie to the underworld. For example, his unusual appearance implies that he is an inhuman being, unlike what he wants to lead on. As he struggles to walk from his car to the front door, Connie notes that “his whole face was a mask... tanned down to his throat...as if he had..makeup on..but had forgotten about his throat”(5). Arnold Friend covers his demonic features in order to pass as a teenager with the intention of deceiving Connie into leaving with him.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison

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In Joyce Carol Oates fictional short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” the majority of the story lies beneath the surface. More specifically than just the story, you realize that there is more to the character Arnold Friend than what may appear. The author has always remained silent and ambiguous about the real meaning of Arnold Friend’s true nature and she leaves room for the readers to make their own interpretation of him. Readers can analyze Arnold Friend and see him as the devil, he could just be the personification of popular music imagined by Connie in a dream, but Arnold Friend could also be the result of drug use.

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The story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates, is a one where the idea of how girl who struggles with wanting to be a mature woman, faces her demon full form. The protagonist of the story is Connie, a 15-year-old rebel girl, obsessed with her look; and through fault of her own, meets the antithesis of herself, the antagonist of the story, Arnold Friend. Connie seeks to be a mature adult and desires an emancipation from her family. Seeing herself as mature woman through the desires of her attraction by other boys and men, as well as her mother. Its this same desire which acts as the main fault for her character.

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Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

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The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by the author Joyce Carol Oates in 1966. Oates describes her idea for the story after briefly reading an article about the real-life murderer, Charles Schmid, who lured and murdered three teenage girls (Kirszner & Mandell 523). She uses this idea to create the character, Arnold Friend, and his victim, Connie. Connie is a typical teenage girl portrayed as naïve and self-centered. The short story appears realistic, given that the conflict in the story is based off of real events.

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In Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” the main protagonist finds herself in a very hostile situation. With an all most fateful encounter with a man known as Arnold Friend. Forcing her to choose whether to run off with him or taking her by force. This man known as Arnold Friend to the reader comes off as almost a demon. A person who uses many temptations, word play, and threats to take advantage of the young protagonist Connie.

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Gatsby’s car as described by Nick, is cream-colored and as Nick says, “Sitting down behind many layers of glass in a sort of green leather conservatory, we started to town.” (Fitzgerald 64). Gatsby’s car is green in remembrance of Daisy. As Gatsby realizes that Daisy left him because he was poor, he starts to earn money in order to impress Daisy and get her back, his car is one of the few examples of

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The Theme Of Ignorance In Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Been?'

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shows the readers that that vanity and lack of self-awareness can make some vulnerable and easily fall for the evilness of the world. Because Connie became vulnerable, she was easily persuaded by Arnold, who was portrayed as the Devil figure and the darkness that exists, to leave her the known safety of her home and to embark on the road to the unclear future. Oates’s story teaches the readers to be cautious of their surroundings and of the people that are unfamiliar to them that live in the same society. That is because even if someone appears to look a certain way they might have a mask that hides the true darkness and evilness that is in their body and

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Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

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“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” is about a teenager named Connie who is trying to come to terms with her transformation from childhood to adulthood. Through this process, Connie attempts to act older than she is an tries to gain the attention of boys. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Oates portrays Connie as obsessed with men to symbolize how one’s obsession and narcissistic attitude can cause danger to seem surreal. In the short story, Carol Oates describes Connie as having two different personalities, one being a narcissistic attitude.

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

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Arnold Friend’s Biblical Allusions In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates tells a story of a young, innocent teenage girl, Connie who enjoys listening to music and begins exploring her sexuality and being with boys “the way it was in the movies and promised in songs” (Oates 198). In fact she catches the attention of Arnold Friend one night while at the mall meeting up with a boy. Not knowing he would appear in her life, Arnold strangely shows up at her house assuming they made plans to get together. His character is seen as the devil.

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Connie describes it as a "convertible jalopy painted gold."  Meaning an old junky car painted gold to disguise what it really was. There are many times when Connie believes he is disguising his own looks. Oates writes, "he had shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig..." and later "He had to bend and adjust his boots. Evidently his feet did not go all the way down; the boots must have been stuffed with something so that he would seem taller.

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Symbolism In 'Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?'

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Friend himself. There’s so much symbolism going around this one character and his beloved car alone, that one could write a separate paper on the topic. Speaking of yet more symbolism, we get finally get a formal introduction to Arnold Friend, who’s name alone symbolizes trouble. Since Arnold Friend is symbolizing Satan a known shapeshifter, one could do a little reading into the several interpretations of his name. One, An old friend, this being Eddie, the guy she had burgers with at the mall.

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Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis

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It serves as a contrast between who Arnold is and who he is disguised as. The car symbolizes the fantasy and the reality aspect of Arnold. The new paint job on his car is used to symbolize Arnold’s fake disguise that he puts on to lure Connie in. Arnold’s car becomes a major example of his dark appearance and nature. The color of his car which is gold represents being flashy.

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