Arnold Fiend/ No Friend Essay

A protagonist by the name of Connie in the tier con trading floor entitled Where ar you going, Where lose you been by Joyce warble Oates, soon learns that her trashy daydreams and self-absorbed behavior only leads to disaster by sort of a man named Arn grey-headed Friend. Arnold Friend portion in this apologue re collapses the devil. Connie, a horny high school freshman shows a vehement disdain for family values but more concern with social nature and slutty appearances. As the summer approaches she and her high school girlfriends obnoxiously parade the townspeople seeking amusement from boys.Sneaky and scantily clad, Connie deceives her p arnts on a first-string basis. While around her parents Connie dresses conservative and behaves graciously, reversely, in company of her friends she goes for the hooker olfactory modality and elevator carries herself as if she were a listenless teenage squander. Soon dither finds it way in this rebellious teens life as she run low more curious abtaboo her developing sexuality. In this exciting short story, Joyce Oates thrilled the reader with an intense built up suspense followed by a promising and thought provoking climax that non notwithstanding the main font/ Connie could see coming.The story of a recent uninitiated and considerably dense girl meditates place in a surface area suburb in a small and slow paced town. The story is told done the eyes of a mature, relaxed elder. The reader recognizes the use of music, as it holds a hypnotizing prepare upon the young socialite as she endeavors a journey that leads to disaster. Vain and socially obscure, Connie feels confronted with the uninterrupted comparison of her older and more mature sister named June. More authoritative and valued by her parents, June assisted in household chores and earnestly rescue money. By ontrast, Connies friends did not accept June she was favored more by her parents. She sat on the bed, barefoot and listened for an hou r and a half to a program called XYZ Sunday Jamboree, record after record of hard riotous shrieking songs, she sang along with (Giota/Oates) Following the need to engage in rebellious and worldly activities, Connie held immature aspirations of seeking thrills, the main character foolishly wastes her date thinking of nothing and listening to music all day, she shows no thought or action of obtaining more substance in her character. Connies worldly and promiscuous behavior soon attracts the devil himself.Honestly speaking, with the time Connie spent daydreaming about trash, she could have sought to become learned person and about anything, be it family or world issues, but instead she chose to be a lofty regular at a local burger joint. Jane Barstow from the capital of Oregon press analyzes Connies actions For Connie, the bright-lit, fly-infested restaurant is a sacred building and the ubiquitous music is like a church service always in the background, something on which she can d epend. As if to parody Christian symbolism, Oates describes the grinning boy, attribute a hamburger aloft, which caps the bottle-shaped restaurant.It is here that Connie finds the haven and blessing otherwise lose in her life. Barstow, (Jane) M. Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Masterplots II Short Story Series, rewrite Edition (2004) 1-3. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 6 June 2012. Sadly, it was Connies idle mind attracted the unholy and astute Arnold Friend. Connie refused to go to a Sunday BBQ with her family and chose instead to idle at lieu alone. Arnold Friend, a deceitful thirty- something portrays himself as a innocent eighteen socio-economic class old he approaches Connie and ultimately rapes her. through with(predicate) his convincing tone and devilish persistence, Arnold friend is viewed by most literary critics as Satan himself, The story has been subject to differing interpretations by various critics. It has been seen as an inverted fairy twaddle in which Connie is joined not with Prince Charming but with the Prince of Darkness. These readers have pointed out similarities between Arnold Friend and the devil his disguise, his supernatural knowledge of the whereabouts of Connies family, his energy to lure Connie to him against her will, even his very name, which is by no coincidence airless to Arch Fiend. (Korb) When we take a look at the sinister character of Friend it easy to interpret him as the devil. Take out the r in Arnold Friends name and you fleetly discern what Arnold represents an old Fiend. Connie was attracted to Friends gold car, a color that is divine and ofttimes classified as the color of the gods. Before raping Connie, the satanic Friend inserts a boot in between Connies front door, One of his boots was antic at an angle, as if his foot wasnt in it (592).The ways the reader of this short story can distinguish Friends character to be the devil is by noticing through the story Friend has trouble standing in hi s boots. Surely, Friend, like Satan has Goat leg, Clearly that is why he cannot stand in his boots. Exploring this further, The words scribed on Friends car homosexual THE FLYING SAUCER indeed has the same letters that spells out HESATANLUCIFER . Through it all, however, she privately harbors innocent dreams of ideal love. One day, while home alone, she is approached by a strange man ominously named Arnold Friend, who is determined to seduce her and take her away.Rather than use force, Friend insinuates his way into Connies mind and subdues her defenceless and emerging sexuality Mann, Barry, and Alvin K. Benson. Joyce Carol Oates. Critical Survey Of Short Fiction, succor revise Edition (2001) 1-7. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 6 June 2012 Ultimately, Where are you going, where have you been, expresses the need for teens to be conscious and active in positive thoughts and aspirations. The main character had a host of troublesome thoughts and instinctively acted upon them. When pe ople are not present minded they become inhibit dangerous and undesirable lifestyle.The need to be present minded as a young person is dandy for such as reason as this. Rape and violence not only occurs when you dont expect it, but it alike occurs when are empty minded and not aware. In the perspective of a young person, Cars can represent freedom, popularity and liberty, but In the story, Connie was attracted to Satan through his car and the persuasion. Considering a conscience and active Connie, this rape would not have existed. In closing, Arnold and his secret code that is was scribed on his car 33, 19,17 is also a give-and-take verse that also questions the a character of Where are you going, where have you been.It is clear that the author, Joyce Carol oats his finessed the idea of an eternal presence in this book. Using this story as a warning and as an example of what an idle mind brings can not only spare your life but also your innocence. Citations and sources * Where ar e you going, where have you been/Intro to fiction/XJ Kennedy Diana Giota 11th ED. Where are you going,where have you been? , Joyce Carol Oates, Copyright 1970 Ontario review *A summary and analysis of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Barstow, Jane M. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Masterplots II Short Story Series, Revised Edition (2004) 1-3. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 6 June 2012. * Korb, Rena. An overview of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? . Short Stories for Students. Detroit Gale, 2002. Literature vision Center. Web. 13 June 2012. ** Where are you going, where have you been/Intro to fiction/XJ Kennedy Diana Giota 11th ED. Where are you going,where have you been? , Joyce Carol Oates, Copyright 1970 Ontario review(592)