There are many ideas and opinions floating around about Joyce Carol Oates' story, "Where Are You Going, Where have You Been?", stating that Arnold Friend is a real or wholly imagined character, or Arnold Friend represents the devil. Oates' story clearly shows that Arnold Friend and his erotic behavior are nothing more than Connie's fantasies in Connie's dreams.
             If one was to look at Connie's personal life, her mother would constantly nag at her, and her father never seemed to be into Connie's life. When her father is home, he would immediately want dinner. At the dinner table he would ignore his surroundings and read a newspaper. After he is done with dinner, he would go up to bed (p 703). Connie doesn't have a father figure in her life. Young girls need attention from a man. If they don't get that attention at home from their parents, than it's easy for them to turn to fictional characters, such as Arnold Friend, in dreams. Not only is Arnold Friend offering her love that she desires, he also is an older man; a man in his thirties. He is practically old enough to be Connie's father.
             Besides Connie being deprived of a father figure, Connie lacks confidence. Sure, she may be vain and it seems to appear that a mirror is
             Connie's best friend, but she only looks in a mirror for reassurance. Connie would "check other people's faces to make sure her own was alright" (p 702). She constantly uses other people's flaws to make her feel important and flawless. Connie tends to make herself feel like she is a better person, just like when Arnold Friend threatened to hurt her family and he turned the story saying that her family wouldn't help her if they were in the same situation (p 709). Only in her dreams would she make her self a hero. It's easy for Connie to
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