The book portrays Connie as a much more believable character. Connie is about as rebellious as a teenager comes. She never listens to her parents and is in need of constant attention from boys. Usually girls like this suffer from not having a strong support group at home. This stands true in the book, but not the movie. In the movie, both of Connie’s parents are very loving and caring towards there daughter. Connie and her mother may argue a lot, but her mother still shows affection towards her daughter. In the book, Connie’s mother comes off

much colder and her father is almost non-existent. “Their father was away at work most of the time and when he came home he wanted supper and he read the newspaper at supper and after supper he went to bed. He didn’t bother talking much to them, but around his bent head Connie’s mother kept picking at her until Connie wished her mother was dead and it was all over.” (Oates 380) Wow! Now this is one frustrated young lady! Connie’s father never even looks at her when he talks, as if the newspaper and everything else in the world serves a higher importance then his own daughter. Connie wishes her mother would just die, because she attacks Connie’s character so much. The book displays a relationship that is much more realistic in accordance with Connie’s attitude and desires.

The book does a better job of setting up and portraying the villain of the story. Connie can be classified as a tease towards young men. She enjoys the idea of guys lusting over her more than anything else. The movie adds a scene where Connie feels sexually uncomfortable with a boy when another guy is in his car. She is forced to leave the car and walk home from the city. This scene takes away from Connie’s innocence as she goes into her encounter with Arnold Friend. Arnold is much creepier in the

Some topics in this essay:
Arnold Friend, Friend Arnold, Connie Connie, Carol Oates, book movie, arnold friend, Takes Seat, teenage girl, towards daughter, daughter connie, story connie, connie’s mother, movie movie, movie connie’s, someone’s eyes,