“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” is a psychological thriller of seduction and manipulation in a young life. Arnold Friend preys on the 15-year-old girl, Connie, by seduction her. The author Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism to reveal the characterization of Arnold Friend, who is a symbol of a larger idea or force such as evil being, the devil in human disguise.

Oates deliberately uses both Arnold Friends first name and last name throughout the story. If Oates used Arnold Friend first name only, then the readers and Connie would view him to be more of a common man and human-like. Also, Arnold’s name just like his identity is fake as he voluntarily confirms his name is real. “I wanta introduce myself, I’m Arnold Friend and that’s my real name” (Oates par 26). Arnold Friend tells Connie. “I’m gonna be you friend” etc. (Oates par 26). His last name, Friend is symbolic as if he is a friend and furthermore a hidden meaning to his first and last name when you scramble the letters and take out the letter r identifies his real self, as an old fiend. The numbers on Arnold Friends car is another hidden meaning. The numbers 33, 19, 17 adds up to 69, which

The nature of the devil is deception and deceit and to disguise the truth just like how Arnold Friend disguises himself as a teenager to appeal to Connie. Arnold’s appearance was misleading because his face has wrinkles and his visible teeth are too big for him to be a teenager let alone 18 years old. “Hey, how old are you?” (Oates par 78). “His smiled faded.” “She could see then that he wasn't a kid, he was much older—thirty, maybe more” (Oates par 79). “Can'tcha see I'm your own age?” (Oates par 80). “I’m eighteen” (Oates par 82).

Oates uses allegory of good versus evil in the struggle between Arnold Friend and Connie to personifying the evil in him and personifying the good in her. Arnold Friend symbolizes all things that are evil and Oates characterization of him emulates the devil in human disguise that eventually destroys Connie’s good virtue and has plans to possess her soul.

Arnold Friend’s supernatural mysterious knowledge of what is going on in Connie’s head as if he was reading her thoughts and knowing personal information about her family and friends shows what his evil powers are capable of. Arnold Friend tells Connie the family barbeque event as it is taking place in the present when he talks about Aunt Tillie and June. “Aunt Tillie's. Right now they're uh—they're drinking.” “Yeah. Sitting around. There's your sister in a blue dress, huh?” “And high heels, the poor sad bitch—nothing like you” (Oates par 99).

symbolizes a sexual expression to mean sexual immorality and evil desires.

Oates uses appearance descriptions to illustrate the characteristics of Arnold Friends. Oates describes Arnold Friend as having dark eerie evil features and illusions, impo

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