Arnold Friend Symbolism

Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” can be argued in numerous ways. Critics assume the short story was just a feminist allegory; Friend has the power to enter through the screen door however, he persuades Connie to come to him, giving into his manipulative sexual promises. On the other hand some think Arnold Friend is a Godlike figure, saving Connie from her life; while others think Arnold is a Satanic creature, luring her into sin. However those theories were never supported from Oates throughout the story. There are several hints from Oates proving that Connie is experiencing a day mare, where the crave of her sexual desires comes to life, embodying a manipulative, satanic figure.
Connie had two sides to her, one side for home, and the other for anywhere but home (Oates, 1). She had dark blonde hair that caught anyone’s attention. And she was always “gawking at herself”, said her mother (Oates, 1). On a sunny summer Sunday, Connie lied out back on a lawn chair letting her hair dry. “Connie sat with her eyes closed in the sun, dreaming and dazed with the warmth about her as if this were a kind of love, the caresses of love (Oates, 2).” Connie was always …show more content…
Take for instance the numbers on his gold car; 33,19,17. Add the numbers up and they represent a sexual reference. In Connie’s nightmare Arnold Friend is trying to convince Connie to surrender to him. He is trying to lure her into sin with manipulation. Connie stepping through the kitchen screen door, was like Eve biting into the apple. And the snake? Arnold friend is the devious snake in her dream. Arnold Friend convinced Connie to come outside, “I ain’t coming in that house after you,” Friend says (Oates, 7). The devil didn’t force Eve to bite the apple, but he manipulated her into it. Just as Friend manipulated Connie out the screen