Arnold Friend Character Analysis

In Joyce Carol Oats, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" the main character, Connie, is a 15 year old who is at constant war with her family and is in a rush to grow up which divides her into two different people: "One for home and one for anywhere that was not home" (Oates 322). Connie spends her time listening to music, having fun with her friends and trying to meet boys. As soon as she is free from home, the child in her is hidden, and she becomes what she believes is a young woman. That is, craving males' attention. However, when gets a surprise visit from Arnold Friend she realizes that she has found her match. This is no normal situation since it isn't every day that the devil drives up your driveway and comes knocking on your door. First of all, it is obvious that Connie is not happy at home. Her mother is always bringing her down with remarks such as, "stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you're so pretty?" and her father is pretty much always "away at work most of the time", so it is obvious that Connie …show more content…
Therefore, I agree with Mark Robson who explains that it is "yet another indication of Arnold Friend's intention of raping Connie whom he allegedly wants to take 'just for a ride'... [and that] Arnold Friend's secret code make perfect sense when interpreted, not as obscure scriptural references that neither Connie nor Arnold would understand, but as a not-so-subtle reference to a sexual expression consistent with the other slang statement on Arnold's jalopy, his expressed interest in being Connie's lover, and with Arnold's sexually deviant personality"(Robson). This bible passage also refers to the title which analyzes Oate's short story, "Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?” helping the reader think, "What is Connie's future? And what has she done in the past the led her to this encounter with Arnold Friend, the