Wher are you going where have you been
A famous short story is "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" by Joyce Carol Oates. This stunning story describes how the seemingly perfect girl, Connie, is terrorized by the most abnormal man, Arnold Friend. Some would argue that he is the devil. Any argument that Arnold Friend is Satan can be used to say he is nothing more than a psychotic serial killer. While this prospect is horrific, it is considerably less disturbing than the devil knocking at your door. Though his persuasive behavior, unusual appearance and almost omniscient knowledge of Connie and her life are eerie they are explainable in the natural world. From the moment Arnold Friend and Connie see each other he appears to have a kind of magnetism that she can not help but notice, "He stared at her and then his lips widened in a grin. Connie slit her eyes at him and turned away, but she couldn't help glancing back..."(363). His bravado is just one of the facets of his control over Connie. When he and his friend pull up to the house "the horn sounded four short taps, as if this were a signal Connie knew"(366) and asks Connie if he was late. This kind of confidence would probably be attractive on some level to Connie who was used to the sweet ge
While all of this is supremely chilling it is not otherworldly. Her indecision could be explained that she rather liked having her ego stroked. Arnold Friend is a creep, a stalker, a maniac but not supernatural. It could be said that the funny black hair could cover horns and the fact that he wobbles in boots that do not fit him properly because of hooves. He can stalk a girl but he can not know everything. Believing he does not lie directly influences her actions. The fact that Ellie knows what to do regarding the phones implies that they are not new to this sort of thing. What he is saying is important and how he says it is just as important. Arnold's appearance is puzzling. He talks with her about the radio station they are both listening to and uses phrases that are not used any more in an effort to fit into her world. With this combination the fifteen-year-old Connie does not stand a chance. To truly fit in he must dress correctly, know the music and talk the talk.
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