Arnold Friend Character Analysis

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is an intriguing short story by Joyce Carol Oates that leaves readers to delve into their own interpretations of what truly happened in the story. As a matter of fact, the last section of Oates’ story is what has caused the most discussion as Connie’s fate is at the mercy of a sinister man known as Arnold Friend. Furthermore, the fact that the story ends without a clear explanation of who Friend was only adds to the mystery as the reader does not know what exactly happened to Connie or if she was only having a dream. This paper will decipher the author’s message, analyze the characters of Arnold Friend and Ellie, and deduce Connie’s fate. Oates’s main message in her short story is exactly pinpointed

Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is the story of a girl named Connie. Connie may be the protagonist, but she is not a symbolic character as much as a typical teen-aged girl in the middle of the twentieth century. On the other hand, there is Arnold Friend, the antagonist, who is so full of symbolism that he is nothing but an allegorical figure. There are different interpretations of what, or who, exactly Arnold Friend symbolizes.

Was it for the sake of her family? Did Connie just give up, knowing that she was no match for Arnolds persistence? Joyce Carol Oates never gives the reader any specific reasons as to why, only to leave them asking the question. Why Connie? Many might say that Connie left with Arnold Friend just because of the simple fact that she’s fifteen and didn’t know any better,

Drew Dillon Juan Espinoza EN102 23 February 2023 Arnold is Not Your Friend In the story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” By Joyce Carol Oates, the author presents the reader with a very dark tale featuring themes of predator versus prey, corruption versus innocence, and freedom versus control. The character Arnold Friend at first appears to be a charmer, thanks to his actions and statements made within the story we are able to eventually see his true nature as a a manipulative and evil predator, preying and corrupting the innocencne of the 15 year old protagonist, Connie. Arnold Friend is introduced into the story when Connie has declined an outing with her parents and she is home alone.

The source, “Joyce Carol Oates’s ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’ as Pure Realism”, that Connie had made it clear in the story that Arnold had been watching her for a while and implied that because of that, he used what he knew about her narcissistic attitude to guess how she felt about her sister (Coulthard). Connie’s naive desires also contributed to her compliance with Arnold’s orders. The story constantly showed Connie daydreaming of love, diversion, and boys which ultimately caused her judgement to fog when Arnold arrived at her house to tempt her into leaving. The source, “‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’

“She cried out, she cried for her mother, she felt her breath start jerking back and forth in her lungs as if it were something Arnold Friend was stabbing her with again and again with no tenderness.” (Oates 8). This quote stated in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates shows the capture of Connie by Arnold Friend. Connie’s actions that lead up to her capture are mainly caused by her insecurities which are prevalent through these actions. Her deep-rooted insecurities influence her decisions, actions, and the way she appears to others, which ultimately leads up to the development of the story.

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oats is a short story that is based on a true event that happened in the 1960’s. The allegory came from the man named Charles Schmid, who was a serial killer in which he was known for his ability to get the girls to fall for him. As for the story, Connie, the protagonist, wants to grow up and live in a fast pace and experience adulthood. She soon meets up with a guy named Arnold Friend, the antagonist, who is in search of finding someone to kill or looking for another innocent soul to take. In terms of the story, the author uses a type of writing that differentiates what is reality versus fantasy by using the literary devices of symbolism of Arnold Friend, setting of the music Connie

Ar no friend, the guy she ignored at the mall. An old fiend, would in fact be Arnold himself at the mall giving her fiendish looks. And arch fiend, the latter being another name for Satan. Symbolism is also found with Ellie Oscar.

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.

In Joyce Carol Oates's short story, “Where are you going, and where have you been?” , there is a character named Connie. Connie is a fifteen-year-old girl who believes she is one of the most beautiful girls. She is a rebellious teen who argues with her mother. The relationship between her and her mother is very rocky.

By contrasting Connie's unremarkable suburban life with Arnold Friend's frightening presence, Oates deftly creates the mood. Connie's narcissistic characteristics

Throughout the story, there are many instances: the illogical time and settings, the similarity between Arnold and Connie and the unrealistic events show that the meeting between Connie and Arnold Friend is a dream. The dream is also a preparation for Connie before she steps onto the stage of being an adult. Connie’s dream begins when she refuses to go to her aunt’s house for barbecue party. She stays home, and under the warmness of the sun, she begins her day dreaming about love and the boy she has met the night before. In the beginning, the author writes “Connie sat with her eyes closed in the sun…”

Suddenly, Oates allows Arnold’s malicious side to peak through ever so slightly after Connie tells him that he and is friend better leave, and Arnold replies “We ain’t leaving until you come with us.” (6) In the beginning of the story, the author writes that Connie has two different sides and now she is showing that Arnold has two different ones as well. At this point, Arnold begins to threaten to come in the house if Connie tries to call for help. He even indicates that if she doesn’t go with him before her family returns he will harm them.

The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates can be interpreted in a multitude of ways due to its ambiguity. A psychological lens, however, provides the most accurate viewpoint for analyzing the story as it clarifies certain obscure scenes and actions of Connie. One psychological issue of Connie that is easily inferred from the beginning of the story is her insecurity about her looks. Connie constantly worries about the way that she looks and takes any opportunity to do so, “craning her neck to glance into mirrors or checking other people's faces to make sure her own was all right” (1).

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.