Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character Analysis

In the short story, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Joyce Carol Oates’ depicts the life of a young, narcissistic girl who lives in her own little unrealistic word of beauty, popularity, and boys. Connie’s sister and mother are the complete opposite of what the young, self-centered girl represents. Connie’s entire life consists of making sure she is always looking young and beautiful for the boys out on the town. One day, Connie’s vain lifestyle bites back when a boy that goes by the name Arnold Friend arrives at her house. Arnold Friend personifies an evil spirit bound to show Connie the consequences of the lifestyle she so dearly loves. In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?, Connie’s character can be easily categorized as shallow and egotistical. At only fifteen years old, the young teen only worries about her physical appearance and what others think of her. Connie lives in a make-believe world where movies and music affect her views on love. The reader can make the conclusion that Connie is self-centered by reading the line, “She was fifteen and she had a quick nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors, or checking other people’s faces to make sure her own was alright” (Oates 1096). On the contrary, …show more content…
is actually the Devil, the world’s oldest fiend, on a mission to show Connie the consequences of her narcissistic and self-centered lifestyle. For centuries, it has been told that The Devils main objective is to tempt and overturn the human beings of this world. The devil is the most renowned trickster and he tempts the people by using their weakest links. That is exactly what Arnold Friend did to Connie with his flashy convertible, golden ride and nice outfit. Arnold Friend showed Connie the eventual outcome of the life choices she made throughout her life. In the end, The Devil succeeds and takes Connie to her presumable rape and