... the devil's favorites sins: vanity. The narrator implies that Arnold Friend is Satan by giving certain clues that the reader can conclude. The name that Oates gives to the character is one hint to the reader: "Connie looked away from Friend ... the behavior of Connie and her family. Connie tempts the devil by committing the sin of vanity. The narrator shows how Connie's vain is one of the main factors that influences the devil's appearance: "She was fifteen and she had ... a quick nervous giggling habit of craning her neck to glance into mirrors, or checking other people's faces to make...

• Word Count: 799
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School