Arnold Friend Symbolism

Words: 866
Pages: 4
Open Document
Author’s Intent: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
The 1966 story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, written by American author Joyce Carol Oates, directly confronts the horrible fate of many mislead teens in a time of pronounced social upheaval. In this short story, the narrator follows the experiences of a typical, rebellious teen named Connie, whose haste in growing up presumably leads her to be raped and killed by an older man. Oates uses characterization, allusion, and symbolism in order to illustrate the dangers of the increasing commonality of tempting maturity too soon.
One way Oates shows the widespread threat of this issue is through the characterization of Connie. Oates makes an intentional effort to portray Connie …show more content…
Arriving at her house uninvited, Arnold Friend expectantly calls out to Connie seeing if she is ready to go for a ride. As the narrator describes the two’s skeptically flirtatious conversation, the audience is able to identify several connections between Arnold Friend and Satan himself, the first of which being his unexplainable knowledge about Connie’s family and the other teens in the town. When Oates reveals the information that Arnold Friend uses play Connie’s emotions, the girl begins to question him, asking how he could know all these personal details about her neighbors considering he wasn’t from the area (6). This absence of explanation leads the reader to assume that Arnold Friend has sources of knowledge beyond what is in the reach of humans. A second factor that links Arnold Friend to Satan is his increasingly obvious disguise. Despite dressing “the way all of them dressed” (5), even Connie could see that “not all these things came together” (6) and that his overall appearance did not seem humanly. The narrator claims “the skin around his eyes were like holes that were not in shadow but instead in light” (5); Oates even goes as far as to include that Arnold Friend has to adjust his boots because “his feet did not go all the way down” (9) indicating he has a deformity resembling the devil’s cloven hoofs.
Show More

Related Documents: Arnold Friend Symbolism

Analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Essay

after reading about a serial killer that was referred to as “The Pied Piper of Tucson”. Oates was disturbed by the number of teenagers that this killer was able to persuade to help him and keep his secrets (Oates 1). Oates uses irony, imagery, and symbolism to support her theme of evil in this short story. Oates starts off by introducing the story’s 15 year old protagonist, Connie. Connie is symbolic of innocence and good. However, Connie has…

Words 1038 - Pages 5

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis Essay

the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, illustrates the horrors and temptations that teenagers face in their growth to adulthood, with her use of the literary elements of characterization and symbolism. Oates develops her two main characters, Connie and Arnold Friend, so that the readers can connect their descriptions to the real world. Connie is a vain and relatable fifteen year old. In her world, being pretty is everything. The reader learns this quickly when the narrator urged…

Words 918 - Pages 4

Unprepared Symbolism

people in general want freedom and independence and how they chose to ignore the consequences. One element that Oates uses to communicate the theme is Symbolism. For example, the car symbolizes someone that is independent, important, and confident. Driving a flashy golden convertible will sure get you noticed sticking out like a sore thumb. Arnold uses his car to attract younger victims, especially girls. It also gives him the appearance of being younger, masking his real age and intentions. It is…

Words 787 - Pages 4

Smooth Talk Essay

knowing of what Connie’s family is doing is another similarity that is shown in both the movie and book that creates an eerie mood. Though in the book A. Friend is more heavily described as creepy, old, and heavily disguised the movie creates that same interpretation with use of eerie music that also gives you a speculative mood of Arnold Friend without the giveaway as the book shows. Joyce Carol Oates also shares views that Smooth Talk was a great interpretation of her own work. She even agrees…

Words 1103 - Pages 5

Where Are You Going Where Have You Been

nagging Connie. Connie is often so miserable that she wishes she and her mother were dead. The majority of the story, after Arnold Friend shows up, takes place with Connie standing in the doorway. This symbolizes her being stuck between a child and an adult. In the end she chooses to walk through the doorway and into adulthood, saving her family from the violence of Arnold but at the expense of…

Words 1488 - Pages 6

SHORT STORY ESSAY

Dhesi 1 Ranvir Dhesi Mr.Depew ENG3U November 10th , 2014 Initiation Symbolism and Conflict In the short story Initiation written by Sylvia Plath the protagonist Millicent Arnold is undergoing a long and difficult set of trials and tribulations with the hopes of being accepted into the most elite sorority at her high school. One of the challenges has Millicent asking people on the bus what they had eaten for breakfast. While doing this she learns about the Heather birds which essentially do whatever they want to…

Words 704 - Pages 3