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Oates is very particular in the words she uses to describe Arnold Friend. Each thing she says about him points to his not being human. Oates refers to Arnold saying "He grinned so broadly his eyes became slits and she saw how thick the lashes were, thick and black as if painted with a black tar like material." (Oates 154). It is apparent that Oates uses descriptions such as these to illustrate an unhuman quality in human form. Another interesting word choice Oates uses is when Arnold is talking perversely to Connie and Connie says "People don't talk like that, you"re crazy" (Oates 156). This helps illustrate the fact that Connie does not recognize Arnold as human.
Arnold Friend knows too much about everything and everyone to only be a person especially one who is not from around the same area as Connie. Arnold claims to know all of Connie's friends and where her family is at which scares Connie into asking how he knows so much and his only response is that he knows everybody. Larry Rubin agrees when he says that "the omniscient capabilities that Arnold shows are just more justifications of his being a demon or even the devil" (Rubin 57). Arnold not only knows what is going on in the world around Connie, but also what she is thinking and how she is as a person. Rubin also says "Arnold knows that Connie is unhappy with her parents in general and taps into this sensitive spot with Connie as a way to bring her outside and go with him" (Rubin 57). He felt that if he could draw Connie outside it would have to be with sex, for Arnold knows that this is what intrigues the young girl. .
The most obvious reason that many people believe Oates is portraying Arnold as a demon is the way Arnold must use trickery and blackmail to lure the innocent Connie out of her home and into his clutches. When Connie says she will call the police to restrain Arnold, he then becomes irate and says he will enter the house and says "You won't want that.