Character Analysis of Arnold Friend in Oates´ Where Are...

Most of us have heard of the famous story by Oates called ‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You been’, featuring the infamous Arnold Friend and plenty of adult themes. So many possible theories stem from just one character from a short story whether he could perhaps be death, or the devil in disguise coming to take Connie away; or perhaps just a mental creepy man coming to kidnap and rape Connie. So many things that Arnold Friend tells little vain Connie can be interpreted in either direction, it is all in how you look at it. To compare Arnold to the devil is like comparing two kinds of apples. They are basically one in the same thing. There are plenty of hidden messages that are possibly referring Friend to be the Devil in disguise. From the moment Arnold Friend is mentioned we notice his newly painted gold jalopy. Most people know that gold is a sign of divinity and higher power which is our first sign that perhaps he is of some higher being. Even his first words to Connie, â€Å"Gonna get you baby† () could possibly be interpreted and the devil telling her that it is her time. He is disguised as someone who she would possibly find appealing but has noticeable features that ends up shocking Connie as to how hold this man possibly be is. It describes him looking as if he is wearing a mask and wig of sorts, which could possibly be hiding some deformity of devilish nature of his. Even his boots do not fit him quite right as mentioned, â€Å"One of his boots was at a strange angle as ifShow MoreRela tedSummary Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?854 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Barstow, Connie represents American innocence and powerlessness. Connie has a hard time defending herself against Arnold Friend because of her lack of knowledge and the impact of American culture. The mother-daughter relationship plays a significant role in the story because had Connie and her mother communicated better, Connie, who is still a child, would have be protected from the evil of the world. Barstow also points out that the modern American is unable to distinguish evil from goodRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been By Joyce Carol Oates990 Words   |  4 PagesSocial Reality: An Analysis of â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† by Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates has kept her true inspiration behind â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† in order to create a willing suspension of disbelief between realism and fantasy. The short story by Oates was released soon after the newspaper published the murders committed by Charles Schmid Jr. in 1966. The story displays numerous resembling details that match the real-life murder case involving â€Å"TheRead MoreWhere Are You Going, Where Have You Been?723 Words   |  3 PagesPsycho, Demon, Dreams, Oh My! â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† by Joyce Carol Oates is a short story about a 15-year old girl named Connie that falls in the trap of Arnold Friend. There are many interpretations to this short story, and many arguments have fought back and forth to find out the true inside meaning to find out what the reason was for Joyce Carol Oates to write this story. There are hundreds of analyses for this story out there, but I am going to just be talking about three;Read More Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Oates1222 Words   |  5 Pagesof teenagers newly formed adolescent minds that any effective argument for responsible attitudes or analysis of sexual behavior in teens should be expressed with a certain minimal degree of clarity. Unfortunately, this essential lucidity of advice is missing in the short story â€Å"Where are You Going, Where Have You Been,† in which the misguided Joyce Carol Oates creates the character of Arthur Friend as a clichà © personification of the inner demon of uncontrollably budding sexuality. Instead, the murkyRead More ‘’Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’’ Essay examples1232 Words   |  5 PagesAnalysis of Connie’s Character and Her Demise There are some stories that capture the reader’s attention and which keep us riveted from the beginning to the ultimate line of the tale. ‘’Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’’, a short story written by Joyce Carol Oates in 1966, is one of those. Inspired by the mythic song of the phenomenal singer Bob Dylan entitled ‘’It’s all over Now, Baby Blue,’’ the author describes the main character as a 15-year-old girl named ‘’ Connie’’, who is obsessedRead MoreJoyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?651 Words   |  3 PagesJoyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Every person comes face to face at some point in life with vital decisions. Some of the decisions are minor ones, while others can bring turning points in life. In Joyce Carol Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? she displays a particular instant in the main characters life. This character, Connie was caught in the difficult transition from her youth and innocence to a doubtful future. Throughout the story Connie alternatesRead MoreComing Of Age : A Comparative Analysis Of `` Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?870 Words   |  4 PagesComing of Age in Fiction: A comparative Analysis of â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You been?† and â€Å"An Ounce of Cure†. â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You been?† by Joyce Carol Oates and â€Å"An Ounce of Cure† by Alice Munro share the common theme of â€Å"Coming of Age†, which depicts a maturation of the character/s going from a child to an adult. In both short stories, the female protagonist has a defining experience that changes the way they view the world or themselves. While both of these storiesRead MorePsychological Analysis Of Charles Schmid And Arnold Friend2127 Words   |  9 PagesResearch Paper 29 November 2016 The Psychological Analysis of Charles Schmid and Arnold Friend While doing some research on psychological criticism, I found that Arnold Friend in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates and notorious murderer Charles Schmid of The Pied Piper of Tucson by Don Moser have characteristics of being a psychopath, motive for killing, similar comparisons of innocence taken by an evil mind, and how Oates wrote her story based upon Schmid’s personalityRead MoreThe Light On Daisys Dock1263 Words   |  6 Pagesconveying in the novel. Therefore, Foster’s concept of character’s desires along with symbols is applied in â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been† and â€Å"Sonny’s Blues.† In The Light on Daisy’s Dock, Foster elucidate his concept of character’s desires and symbols by explaining the story of The Great Gatsby. Foster describes about the character Gatsby, who befriends with the main character Nick Carraway, and Gatsby’s obsession. â€Å"Jay Gatsby’s rapt attention† towards Daisy Buchanan’s dock (FosterRead MoreEssay about Oates Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been1290 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,† written by Joyce Carol Oates is an unsettling and incredibly formidable story of a young woman’s loss of innocence during a time of social change and turbulent times. The story’s protagonist is Connie, a self-absorbed, yet beautiful fifteen year old girl, who not only is at odds with her family but also the conservative values handed down by her family. She, unknowing to her parents, spends her evenings exploring her independence and individuality as well