Arnold Fiend/ No Friend Essay

A protagonist by the name of Connie in the romance short story entitled Where argon you going, Where defy you been by Joyce Carol Oates, soon learns that her trashy daydreams and self-absorbed behavior only leads to hazard by way of a man named Arnold booster station. Arnold booster unit computer address in this story represents the devil. Connie, a horny high school freshman shows a strong disdain for family values nevertheless more than concern with accessible reputation and slutty appearances. As the summer approaches she and her high school girlfriends obnoxiously abut the town seeking amusement from boys.Sneaky and scantily clad, Connie deceives her parents on a regular basis. While around her parents Connie dresses conservative and be throw offs graciously, reversely, in company of her friends she goes for the street girl look and carries herself as if she were a bear in mindless teenage squander. Soon overturn finds it way in this rebellious teens life as she bu gger off more curious ab step up her developing sexuality. In this raise short story, Joyce Oates thrilled the reader with an intense built up hesitation followed by a promising and thought provoking climax that not even the main disposition/ Connie could see coming.The story of a newborn naive and considerably dense girl takes place in a country suburb in a sm wholly and slow paced town. The story is told by dint of the eyes of a mature, relaxed elder. The reader recognizes the use of music, as it holds a hypnotizing effect upon the young socialite as she endeavors a journey that leads to disaster. Vain and socially obscure, Connie feels confronted with the constant comparison of her older and more mature sister named June. much accepted and valued by her parents, June assisted in household chores and seriously saved 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 hour and a half(a) to a program called XYZ Sunday Jamboree, record after record of stark fast shrieking songs, she sang along with (Giota/Oates) Following the extremity to reside in rebellious and worldly activities, Connie held immature aspirations of seeking thrills, the main character foolishly wastes her time 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. aboveboard speaking, with the time Connie spent daydreaming ab come on trash, she could be possessed of sought to become enlightened and about anything, be it family or world issues, but kind of she chose to be a lofty regular at a local anaesthetic burger joint. Jane Barstow from the Salem press analyzes Connies actions For Connie, the bright-lit, fly-infested restaurant is a sacred make and the omnipresent music is like a church service al ways in the background, something on which s he can depend. As if to parody Christian symbolism, Oates describes the grinning boy, holding a hamburger aloft, which caps the bottle-shaped restaurant.It is here that Connie finds the haven and blessing other missing in her life. Barstow, (Jane) M. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Masterplots II victimize narrative Series, Revised Edition (2004) 1-3. MagillOn books Plus. Web. 6 June 2012. Sadly, it was Connies lax mind attracted the scoundrelly and scheming Arnold Friend. Connie refused to go to a Sunday BBQ with her family and chose instead to idle at sign alone. Arnold Friend, a deceitful thirty- something portrays himself as a innocent 18 year old he approaches Connie and ultimately rapes her.Through his convincing tonicity and devilish persistence, Arnold friend is viewed by most literary critics as monster himself, The story has been subject to differing interpretations by various critics. It has been seen as an inverted sprite tale in which Connie is joi ned 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 ability to lure Connie to him against her will, even his very name, which is by no co-occurrence close to Arch Fiend. (Korb) When we take a look at the grim character of Friend it easy to interpret him as the devil. Take out the r in Arnold Friends name and you clearly greet what Arnold represents an old Fiend. Connie was attracted to Friends gold car, a color that is godlike and often classified as the color of the gods. Before raping Connie, the satanic Friend inserts a boot in between Connies front door, unity of his boots was strange 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 his boots. Surely, Frien d, like Satan has Goat leg, distinctly that is why he cannot stand in his boots. Exploring this further, The words scribed on Friends carMAN 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 spend a penny her and take her away.Rather than use force, Friend insinuates his way into Connies mind and subdues her vulnerable and emerging sexuality Mann, Barry, and Alvin K. Benson. Joyce Carol Oates. Critical Survey Of Short Fiction, Second Revised Edition (2001) 1-7. MagillOnLiterature Plus. Web. 6 June 2012 Ultimately, Where are you going, where have you been, expresses the rent 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 people are not presen t minded they become inhibit dangerous and undesirable lifestyle.The need to be present minded as a young psyche is great for such as reason as this. Rape and vehemence not only occurs when you dont expect it, but it in addition 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 bible 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. apply 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 are you going, where have you been/Intro to fiction/XJ Kennedy Diana Giota eleventh ED. Where are you going,where have you been? , Joyce Carol Oates, Copyright 1970 Ontario review *A summary and summary of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Barstow, Jane M. Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?. Masterplots II Short tommyrot 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 Resource 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)