Arnold Friend Character Analysis

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In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, the seemingly inhuman Arnold Friend can be interpreted as the “Pied Piper of Tuscon.” Oates have given Arnold Friend many qualities that are similar to the characteristics of the “Pied Piper of Tuscon” from the physical descriptions, to his mannerisms, his actions, down to the Arnold Friend’s name. Arnold Friend’s is described as about eighteen years old with “shaggy, shabby black hair that looked crazy as a wig,” with a tan that stops at his neck like he forgot to apply the rest of the “makeup” and “about” the same height as Connie. The “Pied Piper of Tuscon,” also known as Charles Schmid, is a short man known for dying his hair black and applying makeup to make his face tan,

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