Arnold Friend In Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

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Arnold Friend In Joyce Carol Oates 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Arnold Friend, a conniving antagonist, charms a naive teenager named Connie into believing he will rescue her from her inattentive family. However, at the story’s climax, Connie fears for her life yet cannot resist Arnold’s temptations. Although details of Friend’s appearance, speech, and actions should warn Connie of his evil intentions, through Oates’s portrayal of Friend as a devil-figure, Connie is easily “conned” foreshadowing her deadly fall.
Many times throughout the story, Arnold reveals supernatural qualities that he possesses, foreshadowing the spell that Connie is put under and cannot break. The largest devil-like trait that Arnold reveals openly is his omniscience.

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