Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Symbolism

Joyce Carol Oates is a famous American writer. Oates has published numerous plays, poetry, novels, novellas, and volumes of short stories. One of her most controversial short stories is, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, because of one of her main characters, Arnold Friend. In her story, Arnold Friend can be portrayed as a negative entity, but Oates does not explain when she is asked about it. Arnold Friend can be seen as a demonic figure in the story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, because of the way he looks, the way he interacts with Connie, and the symbolism in the story.

First of all, in the story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Oates describes Arnold Friend in a bizarre way; not in a human manner,

To start, Arnold Friend’s face seemed as if he wore a mask. When he smiled, his face would crease, but not in a natural way; therefore, Arnold tried to hide his real appearance with a mask. Oates points this out in her story as well when she states, “She watched this smile come, awkward as if he was smiling from inside a mask… as if he had plastered makeup on his face but had forgotten about his throat” (Oates 134). From this, it is implied that Arnold Friend wore makeup to cover up the blemishes that give away his real identity. On the other hand, when Arnold Friend introduced himself to Connie, she realized that Arnold had the same voice as the spokesperson she was listening to previously. Lastly, Arnold Friend looked as if his feet did not fit

For example, in the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Arnold Friend has the knowledge about Connie’s family without knowing them. He knows about how miserable her sister is compared to her, he knows about the other side of the family Connie’s immediate family is going to visit, and what they are doing at the same time without being present. The author of "Joyce Carol Oates's ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ as Pure Realism", A.R. Coulthard, states, “...Arnold Friend seems to possess Satanic powers in the form of supernatural knowledge of Connie and her family…” (Coulthard 508). Furthermore, Arnold Friend knows who all went to the family gathering, what they are wearing, and what the event is. He knows about the lady with the chickens that just passed away. Of course, Arnold Friend could just be saying all of the things he is saying to intimidate Connie, but why does he not want to go inside her house? As mentioned by Oates “...you come out and we’ll drive away...if you don’t come out we’re gonna wait till your people come home and then they’re going to get it” (Oates 135). Arnold Friend keeps on mentioning how he is not entering into Connie’s house, as well as mentioning how it did not matter what the house was made out of, he would still be able to enter if he wanted to, but he does not. Furthermore, as mentioned in "A Source for 'Where