The Hidden Identity of Arnold Friend Essay

found her physically attractive, which he stated in the 18 hour car ride. Another reason could be

how Arnold Friend sees her and does not realize that she cannot see him or his motives. Arnold

Connie gives into Arnold Friend’s satanic ability to lure her out of her safe haven, her home. In the text it states that, “I ain’t made plans for coming in that house where I

Arnold Friend is an ironic name for this character because he isn’t Connie’s friend, she doesn’t even know him. And if you say the name out loud, it sounds like “are no friend” He proves that he can’t be a friend in the first place, he left his so-called friend in the car and talked to him like he meant nothing to him.

Joyce Carol Oates also based Arnold Friend’s stature off of Charles Schmid, the Pied Piper of Tucson. Charles Schmid was well known for being a short, well built individual. He was small but very athletic, having an accomplished career in gymnastics (Moser). Charles Schmid’s build and background in gymnastics is what was able to give him the physical ability to perform the multiple murders. Oates likely wanted to give Arnold Friend those same characteristics to make the story as realistic and as similar to the actual murders as possible. We can tell that Arnold Friend also features a muscular appearance when Connie describes him: “He looked as if he probably

Connie starts out in the story as someone that is self-absorbed, concerned for no one but herself. Arnold Friend is really the same way. He tells her that he saw her “that night and thought, that’s the one” (Oates 480). In spite of the words he uses, the reader knows that Arnold does not have any true feelings for Connie because he says “My sweet little blue-eyed girl” (Oates 483). Arnold is oblivious to the fact that Connie has brown eyes. “In Arnold’s view, Connie’s personal identity is totally unimportant” (Wegs 3).

The interaction between Connie and Friend start when Friend shows up to Connie’s house uninvited. The author Oates states “After a while she heard a car coming up the drive. She sat up at once, startled, because it couldn't be her father so soon. . . It was a car she didn't know,” (qtd. Oates. pg.2) Connie’s first reaction was to evaluate how good she looked instead of finding out whether Friend was somebody she knew or not. When they finally come face to face, she was met with flirtatious small talk from Friend, who exclaimed “Don’tcha like my car? New paint job,… You're cute” (qtd. Oates. pg.3) Connie is in awe of his faded pants and his huge black dark boots and actually considers getting in the car as he requested. The awe of the mysterious however, rapidly shifted as he makes demands and threats due to Connie’s refusal to get in the car with him. Alarmed, Connie tries to put a call. Arnold request that she come out of the house and if she doesn't comply to his demands she and her family are going to “get it”. Slowly, Connie begins to realize that there's something off about Arnold Friend. He looks to be wearing a wig, and he's

First, it is clear that Arnold is like the Big Bad Wolf in “The Three Little Pigs”. At one point, this is shown when he threatens to break into Connie’s home, and says, “I mean, anybody can break through a screen door and glass and wood and iron or anything else if he needs to, especially Arnold Friend,” (24). Arnold declares he can break through a door after Connie tries to lock the door to prevent Arnold from coming inside. This makes it seem like a threat, and that even locking the door, which is supposed to be safe, still can’t stop Arnold Friend. Essentially, it makes him seem very dangerous or crafty, like the Wolf. In the “Three Little Pigs”, when each pig locks themselves inside their home, the Big Bad Wolf declares that he

Connie's surrender to Arnold can be seen as her departure with the "devil." In fact, if we

“Nothing about Arnold Friend is genuine, except his violent intentions and his skill at psychological and physical intimidation. By the story’s end, Connie understands that she is not the confident flirt she thought, but a powerless pawn in the hands of a dangerous individual.” (Cormier)

of dizziness and fear rising in her so that for a moment he wasn't even in focus but was just a

Arnold Friend's façade gives the reader the feeling that something is wrong, as if Oates were trying to persuade Connie away from her impending doom. When Arnold first pulls into Connie's driveway, the reader is alarmed. Connie notices that he is actually much older than he appears and the reader knows that

Arnold friend finds Connie “cute” (321) and a “pretty girl” (324). So now the reader knows for sure that Connie is very beautiful on the outside. The quote, “I took a special interest in you” that was said by Arnold friend, assures the reader that other characters do find her appealing. Now that the reader knows that Connie is beautiful and that other characters find her pretty, he/she understand why Connie has two personalities. In order to keep getting attention from the other characters she has to keep up a good appearance. Connie’s mother kept comparing her to sister June, “‘Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? How’ve you got your hair fixed-what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk.’ . . .If June’s name was mentioned her mother’s tone was approving, and if Connie’s name was mentioned it was disapproving.” (317, 319) Connie’s mother did not approve of what she does. Connie kept doing things that her mother did not like. Connie did not want to be like her sister, and yet her mother kind of raises her to be like her sister. The reader knows that Connie does not have a good relationship with her sister. The reader start to feel bad for Connie, she has to be like the person she doesn’t like to be approved by her mother. Now the reader can fully understand why she does not have a good relationship with her

1. 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?

He took one of her cases and carried it out to his black SUV which was parked right outside the door. She wheeled the other one as far as the doorsteps, unable to lift it, she look up to see him watching her, it felt like he was stripping her with those hypnotic eyes of his.