The warmth of the sun can be used to describe the love for boys, escaping her life, and wholesomeness achieved from a male. Oates explains this connection at the end of the story where she describes that Connie was “…taken up…by the vast sunlit reaches of the land behind and on all sides of him” (Oates 872). Connie was extremely attracted to the warm sun that illuminated Arnold Friend, signifying that she would be taken away to a warm loving world with a warm loving man. Arnold states that he is going to do “Just two things, or maybe three” (Oates 871). Although Connie was wanting love, Larry Rubin explains how her fear of love is illustrated through the words Arnold says (Kozikowski). Oates continuously emphasizes Connie’s feelings in
