Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going?Where Have You Been?” “Fiend in Disguise” Connie, 15 years old, is a proud and churlish girl who boasts about her beauty and makes fun of others. The story begins with a self-absorbed girl who is sexually active but ends up being a smug, self-satisfied story about a girl who is sexually abused. Deeper theological and moral themes can be found in the story if you examine the story closely. Oates’s story shows that Connie did not get kidnapped from a predator sexually, but was instead lulled to sleep by the devil because he had committed the same sin that got him expelled from heaven.
Bibleinfo.com identifies pride as one of the seven deadly Sins. Connie’s vanity is evident right from the beginning. Connie used to cross her neck to see if other people were looking at her. Connie was often criticized by her mom for staring at herself. Her mom encouraged her to look in mirrors and to not stare at herself. But Connie was a better person than June and she believed that June was beautiful and that everything was important. Connie believed that June was her mother’s favorite child (Oates 666). Connie and her friend, Connie, would also mock others and belittling them. Connie and her friends would often “lean together to whisper, laugh, or even laugh in secret” when they saw someone they liked. When a boy invited them over, it was a way for them to “feel good about being able to ignore him.” (Oates 665). Connie has also been guilty of lying to her mum, fornicating and going to church with multiple guys. Her mother would believe that Connie was just going out with her friends. Her mother believed Connie was only going to the cinema with her friends. But Connie was actually hanging out at the drive-in with older guys and then going to dinner with them. They would then go hang out in an area about a mile from where they had eaten. (Oates 665). Connie had been so close to many boys that she could daydream about them. Connie was not at church on Sunday morning Arnold Friend knocked at her door. No one in her immediate family was interested in attending church. Oates is an Atheist. (Humanism, its Discontents). It may therefore seem unwise to interpret the story from a religious perspective.
Oates intends for the story’s readers to understand Christian theology through subtle references and allusions. Oates first clarifies the fact that Oates’ family is Christian by explaining that their Sunday attendance was not necessary. The name Arnold Friend can be shortened by omitting the letter R. This implies that Arnold Friend could be considered a monster, demon or devil. The last and most prominent theological allusion is Arnold Friends car numbers: 33, 19, 17 Nick Courtrights pointed out that the numbers on Arnold Friends car are 33, 19, and 17. And whence camet thou?” The old English translation of this story is “Whither goest thou?” If you understand that the story can only be interpreted in theological terms, you can prove Arnold Friend to be the devil. The devil uses manipulative methods. “Now that serpent was more skilled than any of those wild animals the Lord God had created” (The Holy Bible: International Version, Gen. 3.1).
Arnold Friend has a cunning and manipulative side. He spoke with a “simple but lilting tone” (Oates 659), and his smile was a guarantee that everything was going well.
(Oates 669) and began to flatter her, saying she was cute. Connie realized that Arnold Friend had been around longer than she thought. She tried locking the door but he manipulated her to believe that even iron couldn’t protect her. It’s nothing. It’s possible for anyone to break through a screendoor with a glass, wood, iron or any other item he needs. You’d be running to my arms if the place were lit with fire honey” (Oates 672). He likens the house and its contents to a cardboard box he can “knock off at any hour” (Oates 672). Arnold Friend manipulates Connie by making her feel helpless. Especially after he informs her that her parents would be hurt if they came. The devil is also adept at disguise and deception. “And it’s no surprise, Satan masquerades himself as an angel light” (2 Corinthians. 11.14).
Satan is a person that people find attractive and appealing in order to gain their trust. Arnold Friend has been described as being disguised several times. Connie was able to relate to him because he was dressed the same way as teenage boys. (Oates 668). He has “hard small muscle arms and shoulder,” which Connie considers attractive, and his “amiable and bright eyes” (668). Connie started to notice that he was older than she first thought. He “placed his glasses on top of him carefully, as though he were wearing something else” (Oates 671). His “whole face” seemed like it was a mask (Oates 772). Connie finally noticed that his boots were at an odd angle. It was pointed to the left, bent at his ankle.” (Oates 672).
Many believe the devil has hooves. This would explain his “feet not going all the way up” (Oates 673), and why the shoe bends so oddly. Arnold Friend seemed to have a lot more information than he should have and could do things that a human can’t. Arnold couldn’t have found Connie’s name or the names of her friends via social media in the 1960s. However, he was able name them all, even though Connie doesn’t remember seeing him. He said that he knew where Connie’s parents and sister were going and that he knew how long it would take them to return. Also, he knew who Connie was last night and that Betty is your best friend. Arnold Friend knew Connie’s address, the time and length of her parents’ absence, and where they were headed. He was able describe Connie’s parents’ activities from the spot he stood (Oates 671). Arnold Friend drew a X on the ground and his hand returned to his side. This was another sign of the truth about his nature.
Connie, Joyce Carol Oates, “Where’s your head going?” draws the attention of what looks like a sexual predator. It is clear that Oates intended that the story be understood from a theological perspective. This, together with the similarities Arnold Friend shares and the devil lead to the conclusion Connie wasn’t kidnapped. She was whisked away from the devil by whom she committed pride, the first of many sins, and was thrown into hell.
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