The Representation Of Arnold s Where Are You Going,...

The representation of Arnold Friend in Joyce Carol Oates’ â€Å"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?† has often been discussed by scholars. Many, if not most, have come to the conclusion that Friend is an incarnate of Satan himself. While the theory is both founded and legitimate, it is prudent that one examines Friend from different angles as well. This paper will argue that Friend is not only Satan (or a Satanic being), but also a personification of modern-day rape culture. Arnold Friend is the epitome of true evil. Anthony Ellis refers to him as â€Å"ostensibly evil†¦ [†¦], a devil, a satyr, and a psychic projection† (Ellis 55). Indeed, Friend appears to share many traits with Satan. Not only is Friend manipulative and deceptive; he also camouflages his appearance in order to manipulate his victims into obeying his whims. Satan’s disguise, telling of his character, was that of a snake. It could be argued that Satan is the reason behind snakes’ terrible reputation and the reason why one is viewed as a sleazy character when referred to as a snake. By this definition, Friend is indeed a snake. He attempts to manipulate Connie into taking a ride with him, and he makes himself appear younger in order to lure his victim into his trap. He has to hide agitation and anger whenever Connie questions him, which she does multiple times throughout the short story. His attempts to make himself appear to be a gangly, yet charming teenag er are lost on her, forcing Friend to rework hisShow MoreRelated Themes Discussed in Joyce Oates Where Are You Going , Where Have You Been1551 Words   |  7 PagesWhere Are You Going , Where Have You Been by Joyce Oates It is well known that the most awkward and difficult time in one’s life is adolescence. One is faced with the challenges of discovering who one is and what one wants out of life. One finds themselves frustrated and confused in this particular stage. They are mid way between a bridge. They have left childhood but have not yet reached adulthood. They struggle to find some sense of being and individuality in the world. They are on a questRead MoreThe, A Good Man Is Hard, And Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been1676 Words   |  7 Pagesregarding the nature of evil is in all aspects, unmistakably, prominent within the two apologues A good man is hard to find and Where are you going, where have you been. In Flannery O Connor s A good man is hard to find, the audience can be apprised of the confrontation between Good vs. Evil. Comparable to Joyce Carol Oates Where are you going, where have you been, the reader is also presented with the strife of Good, alternative Evil. It is, with these two encounters, one can assimilate theRead MoreWhere Are You Going? Where Have You Been?1546 Words   |  7 PagesWhere Are You Going? Where Have You Been? In the short story, Where are you going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates, Connie flaunts her beauty to receive attention from the opposite sex and is lead to temptation. The antagonist Arnold Friend, who symbolizes the devil, shows how simple it is to take away your safe haven through sinister acts. Connie is split between how she acts and portrays herself at home, and how she acts whenever she is with her group of friends. Connie refuses toRead MoreAnalysis Of Arnold s An Old Fiend 1475 Words   |  6 Pages1. Arnold Friend s name can be interpreted as being a friend. Also, by removing the r s, his name becomes an old fiend, which can be interpreted as a reference to a demon or even Satan. What other clues are there that Arnold is not who he claims to be? The physical traits of Arnold Friend that the narrator describes are additional clues that Arnold is not who he claims to be. The three physical traits are: his eyelashes look painted, it looks like he is wearing a wig, and he put somethingRead MoreThe Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian Essay1409 Words   |  6 Pagesand Disney’s Pocahontas along with a large smattering of Westerns and cartoonish depictions have created this image of the Native American – an image which rarely translates into the present day. In contrast to this, Sherman Alexie’s novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a Native American coming-of-age story centered around the first-person point of view of the Native protagonist Arnold â€Å"Junior† Spirit, Jr. and his dual life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and his time off theRead MoreSmoke Signals By Sherman Alexie1051 Words   |  5 Pagessignals provides a new perspective of Native American culture by s ubmerging us into the lives of two Native American boys, Thomas and Victor. The movie begins with a fire on the Fourth of July on the Coer d’Alene reservation in Idaho, Victor’s father Arnold saves Thomas as an infant by throwing him out a window. The movie jumps ten years forward and Victor receives word that his father has passed and he has to collect his belongs in Arizona. Victor and Thomas go, and find themselves on a journey of enlightenmentRead MoreQueer Representation Of All Ages Media Essay2163 Words   |  9 PagesQueer Representation in All Ages Media Growing up as a Catholic, Puerto Rican gay boy in the 90s and early 2000s, I struggled to discover my queer identity as well as queer representation in the media I consumed. Being gay was something that was never discussed. If it was brought up, it was usually in hushed tones (I remember being introduced to my uncle s close friend each holiday) or as something negative (I still remember the sting of being called a faggot in elementary school)Read MoreQueer Representation Of All Age Media Essay2321 Words   |  10 Pages Queer Representation in All Age Media Growing up as a Catholic, Puerto Rican gay boy in the 90s and early 2000s, I struggled to discover my queer identity as well as queer representation in the media I consumed. Being gay was something that was never discussed. If it was brought up, it was usually in hushed tones (I remember being introduced to my uncle s close friend each holiday) or as something negative (I still remember the sting of being called a faggot in elementary school)Read MoreFeminist Criticism By Lois Tyson2072 Words   |  9 Pagesroles that are present in society and have been throughout history. In the article â€Å"Feminist Criticism,† by Lois Tyson, the idea of feminism and how society has affected feminism is the focus. These ideas are seen because men have more of a voice in nearly everything and the oppression of women is very common; a society set up like this can be described with the term patriarchy which is â€Å"any culture that privileges men by promoting traditional gender roles,† where men are cast as â€Å"rational, strong,Read MoreWhat Is The Theme Of The Absolutely True Diary Of A Part Time Indian2079 Words   |  9 Pagesnamed Arnold is able get through these tragedies even when hope is almost lost. In the novel, Arnold is a basic cartoonist living in an Indian reservation, which is a place where other Native Americans live in poverty and grief. When Arnold decides to transfer school to Reardan High School, an all-white school, everyone on the reservation hates Arnold for this. They believe that Arnold became white to become successful in life. Despite losing most of his friends in the reservation, Arnold realizes