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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
10 pages in length. The character known as Arnold Friend in Joyce Carol Oates' Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? can be considered quite the conundrum, having been the subject of many interpretations; even Oates herself has proclaimed him a "fantastic figure" of many interpretations. But of all these various descriptions, it is the perception of Arnold as "a Dream" and "a Demon" that provides the most insight into Oates' story, allowing the reader to understand Connie's feelings as she develops emotionally into a woman, as well as the obstacles faced because of it. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
Page Count:
10 pages (~225 words per page)
File: LM1_TLCOatesArn.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
Going, Where Have You Been? can be considered quite the conundrum, having been the subject of many interpretations; even Oates herself has proclaimed him a "fantastic figure" of many interpretations.
But of all these various descriptions, it is the perception of Arnold as "a Dream" and "a Demon" that provides the most insight into Oates story, allowing the reader
to understand Connies feelings as she develops emotionally into a woman, as well as the obstacles faced because of it. II. GOOD AND EVIL
For Oates, her work reflects societys attitudes by the manner in which she presents her literary works. Having been an illustrator and writer since childhood, the author
utilized her physical surroundings as a means by which to symbolize all that had become her reality. An unfortunate experience with a violent molestation early on left Oates reeling
from the social implications of such an act; indeed, it was because of this episode that much of her work turned toward the darker side of existence, not the least
of which includes Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? "The ambiguous power this stranger has over Connie, the depth of his deceptiveness, and the danger the ensuing
adventure holds for her become more understandable when Friend is viewed as the manifestation of a satyr in modern dress, the storys expanding itself in the adumbration of a myth
with universal implications" (Esterly, 1990, pp. 537-543). Human corruption through violence and tragedy serves as the primary theme in this story where Connie
represents the female gender and the manner by which patriarchal society (in the form of Arnold Friend) both seduces and oppresses her. This dream/demon dichotomy is the guiding force
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