Montresor And Arnold Friend Analysis

In Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado,” Montresor’s meticulous planning of Fortunato’s murder is eerily similar to the strategy behind Connie’s rape by Arnold Friend in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates. Both predators lure their victims in by pretending to be their friend, using their weaknesses to their advantage and seizing the opportune moment for attack. Montresor and Arnold Friend conceal their true motives under the guise of friendship. Montresor says: “[N]either by word nor deed had (I) given Fortunato cause to doubt (my) goodwill” (180). During their journey down the catacombs, Montresor continually shows concern for his friend’s health and even offers to cease their trek so Fortunato does not get ill. Arnold Friend drives up to Connie’s house and introduces himself: “I’m Arnold Friend and that’s my real name and I’m gonna be your friend, honey” (156). He converses with Connie in a singsong dialogue to get her comfortably believing that he might be a friend to her.
Montresor baits Fortunato with his one true weakness: wine. Fortunato is so entranced at the thought of sampling a rare Amontillado that he ignores his alarming cough and continues happily down into the catacombs to his impending death. Connie’s weakness is men. She likes to dress up in a fashion that grabs their attention, a little more attention than she can handle or knows what to do with. Arnold Friend studies Connie from afar to mold himself into her perfect “dream guy,” right down to the smallest details of what music she likes to listen to. When Arnold drives up the driveway, Connie sees a man that she is instantly attracted