Arnold Friend Character Analysis in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

​“Don’t you know who I am?” (Oates 7). What if an encounter with the devil literally happened? Countless readings have described the devil, not as horned and demonic but as someone beautiful, charming, and trustworthy. Someone who manipulates easily by saying what a person wants to hear. If the devil is real, Arnold Friend is giving obvious clues and at the same time, uncreatively disguising himself as well as letting his intention known eventually through his dialogue. There is also the case with Arnold Friend’s appearance which seems offbeat and includes his style of clothing, his older gold convertible with writing on the vehicle as well as his license plate which seems to have a significant meaning, and his friend who is described at the end of the story as a forty-year-old baby. Arnold Friend seems to have an all-knowing characteristic regarding Connie’s life, parents and what they do at any given moment which Arnold uses as leverage to convince Connie to leave with him. A breakdown of Arnold Friend’s character, the setting as well as Connie’s and her family’s role that eventually led to Connie’s assumed demise.

​When this story begins, Arnold follows Connie to the mall and when Connie leaves with another boy, Arnold looks at her and says, “Gonna get you, baby” (Oates 1) which seems harmless until it isn’t. Arnold drives to Connie’s house and as Arnold talks to Connie, his appearance is described as unsteady. Arnold leans against his car and seems to be unstable in his cowboy boots. Some have described this as Arnold stuffing his boots to seem taller while others state it is to hide his hooves. Arnold’s hair is described as wild and potential trouble, shaggy and crazy as a wig (Oates 2). This seems to give the assumption that Arnold is hiding his horns. In contrast, his face was not of a stranger and noted as a familiar face, somehow (Oates 4) . Although Arnold initially gives the impression of being a teenager, Connie realizes quickly that he is not and that was one moment that Connie realized her situation may be more dire than initially perceived (Oates 5). Arnold Friend’s name is known to have other meanings, Arch Fiend is one interpretation but removing the letter “r” from both names leaves An Old Fiend. At this point there is something off and potentially dangerous but still exciting to Connie even though she is quick to notice Arnold’s car is an old jalopy and Arnold even tells Connie his license plate has a special meaning. Possibly the number of victims Arnold has or a passage in the Bible perhaps. Going to the Old Testament and counting the books backwards, the thirty third book is Judges. In this book, Chapter 19, verse 17; the passage reads similar wording to where are you going, where have you been (Oates 3).

​Arnold Friend seems to take advantage of the vanity possessed by Connie. Her mother had told her to stop looking in the mirror so much and that may be a reason why Connie craved so much attention from boys. Connie did not have a strong father figure in her life as her father seemed to be in a nontraditional role as he simply comes home and has little to no interaction with his wife and daughters. Arnold wears mirrored sunglasses which he can hide behind and Connie can see herself in the reflection further feeding her ego as she can see what Arnold is seeing. At this point, the influence of Arnold Friend is revealed as he appears omniscient (Oates 6). The dialogue includes Arnold telling Connie that he knows all about her, the woman with the chickens and her family. Arnold Friend knows where Connie’s parents are and what they are doing even at this moment.

​The setting itself gives clue to Arnold Friend’s character. His gold convertible jalopy is perceived to be in poor condition but painted a color of high status and wealth giving the appearance of deceit (Oates 2). Much like Arnold, the real is covered in something more attractive, in this case it is gold paint. Ellie, Arnold Friend’s buddy, is berated but doesn’t seem to mind. As if Ellie is a subordinate to Arnold and gives the impression if Arnold Friend is the Devil, Ellie must be a Demon. The home Connie lives in is out in the country, has a long driveway and doesn’t have neighbors in close proximity giving the feeling of isolation. When the final interaction between Arnold and Connie happens, her entire family is away at a barbeque again giving the feeling of desperation.

​Arnold Friend’s dialogue with Connie is confident and at times arrogant. This is a quality used by boys to attract girls and is evident when he arrives the next day and says “I ain’t late, am I?” (Oates 2) as if Arnold was invited. Arnold speaks to Connie as if they had been friends instead of someone preying on a young girl. At one point Arnold can lure Connie closer to him but begins to lose his welcoming tone and threatens both Connie and her family. He tells Connie, “We ain’t leaving ‘till you come with us” (Oates 6) as Arnold loses his patience, and his motives are becoming clear to Connie as her concern turns to panic. This drastic change in behavior confirms his deceit as he continues to strongly urge Connie to get into his car. Arnold tells Connie, I won’t come in and get you, but you can’t call for help, you can’t call the police otherwise I will come in and get you (Oates 7). At this point is seems Arnold is looking to Connie to come to the realization that she is going with him one way or the other but would rather her surrender and come by her own will. Faced with a hopeless situation, Connie cries out to her mother and realizes she will never sleep in her own bed again. It dawns upon Connie that it was her decisions that eventually led up to what is happening now.

This story is not unfamiliar to humankind. Throughout history there have been victims deceived by someone and abducted. This story tells of appearance versus reality. Both Connie and Arnold have two sided personalities that each use for their own gain. Much like human beings, they display one version of themselves when around friends or co workers and another when around family. Although there have been countless victims throughout the years, the template seems to be eerily similar. Deceit from someone who talks their way into a victim’s life, or some have an in by being a family friend. This story is just another chapter in a book that won’t end for humanity and unfortunately another chapter will start for others.

Bibliography page

Oates, Joyce Carol. “‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been’ by Joyce Carol Oates (1966).” Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", https://www.cusd200.org/cms/lib/IL01001538/Centricity/Domain/361/oates_going.pdf.