Who’s Arnold Friend? English Prof Explains Oates' Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Analysis
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- A lecture on Joyce Carol Oates' short story, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", focusing on the meaning and identity of Arnold Friend, the vanity and shallow values of Connie and popular culture, and the consequences of parental neglect. #lecture #subtitles #subtitle #joycecaroloates #bobdylan #arnoldfriend #whereareyougoingwherehaveyoubeen #analysis #literature #shortstory #contemporaryliterature #literature #oates #popculture #education
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One of the most frightening stories I've ever read. Thanks for the analysis. Doesn't make it any less scary!
Yes, a student and I once talked about how absolutely frightening Arnold Friend is, precisely because his type of predation could really happen to anyone.
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Your discussion of the story's symbolism, particularly the recurring motifs of mirrors and the sun, was illuminating. You highlighted how these elements reflect Connie's internal struggle and the looming darkness that threatens to engulf her. This deeper exploration of the story's subtext added a layer of psychological depth and complexity.
Thanks for sharing!
It can be easy to come to the conclusion that Arnold is the devil or a manifestation of some other biblical evil, but I think the possibility of him just being a normal, awful human is WAY scarier.
Like the lecture mentioned, I think serial killers are definitely capable of everything Arnold does. Researching their victims, getting to know them, and trying to insert themselves into their lives in order to lure them out. It's not Connie's fault at all; I don't think she's the victim of devil-induced temptation and I don't think she's being punished for her sins. She just met the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I totally agree. He’s the scariest of any monster because he’s real.
Dr. Kosters' analysis of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is truly insightful, offering a nuanced exploration of the story's themes and characters. Thanks
Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed this lecture as it helped me really understand the story! Before watching this lecture I was a little confused on who Arnold Friend was, but after watching the lecture I think it is interesting how friend is like the devil in disguise. I can really see this with how he disguises himself as someone who would be Connie's type in order to try and lure her out with temptation. Also, in many horror movies that involve demonic entities we always see that the entity can't enter into a body or house of someone unless invited in, and it is similar in this story as Friend can't cross the door. Thank you for this lecture it was very insightful!
Glad it helped!
I was just given this short story as an assignment. A few things stuck out to me immediately as I read them. His fumbling through different phrases to get to the modern one, his boots not fitting correctly, his extensive knowledge of her, and his inability to cross into the door. All of those together drew me to view him as a demon or the devil. After watching your video, it was interesting to find out about the murderer upon which Friend could have been based. It was a very thought provoking story.
It’s a fantastic story! Oates certainly captures the horror element in it.
This is among my favorite short stories, along with such as The Monkey's Paw, Most Dangerous Game, etc... but it is the most disturbing short story I can think of.
Oh, I love “The Monkey’s Paw,” too! I think Oates’ story is so disturbing because, despite Arnold Friend seeming to have some weird supernatural qualities, he really is just creepy and performs this act of omniscience, and people like this exist everywhere. What happens to Connie could happen to any young person, and that’s truly frightening.
This story reminds me of a bunch of different things but this similar scenario is not something any of us are unfamiliar with. A guy forcing a girl to do what he wants her to do by threatening to hurt her or her family is something that we have all either seen in movies, in the news or even in people around us unfortunately. While reading this story I thought of this news article about a missing girl who was in a similar situation as Connie, she had gone out with her friends and started to hang out with a few guys in the same restaurant but she was never found again. This story reminded me that as girls, we should look out for each other in this gruesome world we live in.
Yes. I think Friend is such a scary villain precisely because he exists in the real world all too often.
This was for sure a very scary analysis, but the insight kept me interested thank you!
After watching this lecture what mainly stuck out to me was the imagery used to describe him. I got a vivid representation of him in my mind and was able to grasp the story better. This lecture also applies to real life and how so many people can disguise themselves to appear a certain way yet seem different. The context clues used in this story to figure out key aspects helped get a better grasp of the overall message and see the difference between reality and imagination. This all is hopefully a dream yet given the complexity and detail it may not be.
I think that’s why Friend is so scary-there are too many real people in this world just like him.
Great video and lecture! I enjoyed this story because as a young girl, it's still scary going out in the world in this society. I think Arnold Friend representing the darkness and dangers young girls face is also something that every girl at every age faces. I found it interesting yet also sad how its based off a true story. I also think it's sad how Connie probably never went out again after what happened.
It’s scariest just thinking that Friend is a regular human who’s just a creep.
This story seems so typical at first but takes a crazy turn midway. I enjoyed the ending as well because of its open interpretation, personally, I myself am a fan of morbid endings myself buy who can honestly say for sure.
Yeah, there are many ways this story can go.
Thank you for another lecture, Professor Kosters. This video truly helped me understand the story a bit more. This story really highlights the teenage hood, rebellious attitudes, 'stranger danger', and parental neglect. I think it was really interesting how connected the story to an actual crime or event that it was inspired by. I would also like to make the possible correlation between Arnold Friend and the Devil from "Young Goodman Brown". Both of these characters are devil in disguises and work in order to tempt and lure their possible 'victims' for their personal gain.
Glad it helped!
This story was very gruesome but ti put alot into perspective. I feel like Arnold was a symbolization of a wolf in sheeps clothing. You cannot trust appearances because nothing is as it seems. That is a valuable lesson because many have been hurt by that simple disregardence. Whether or not he was actually the devil it showed that sometimes the choices we make can lead us toward good paths or bad paths but it is better to think it thoroughly then to be spontaneous because you can never be certain of what will happen. Sometimes the worst case scenario can be the only scenario.
Thanks for sharing!
I was given this story as an Assignment. I do not have good reading comprehension so this video and others helped me a lot to understand just what is going on in the story. Thank you for the help. all in all the story is very thought provoking. for multiple reasons.
So glad it was helpful! I have many other videos on lit if you need help in the future!
Great video and lecture, Professor Kosters! I liked how you went into detail and told us the backstory of this story at the beginning of the lecture, and the characters they symbolized. This helped me better understand the story and specific things that happened throughout the story. I also liked how you used key details to find out the meaning behind the numbers on the vehicles in the story. I would say I do believe she is dreaming in this story by the way it's told.
We can only hope it’s a dream!
Amazing explanation I think with your analysis and questions I feel more confident writing my paper. Thank you for going over this story.
So glad it helped! I have a lot of other lectures on my channel of you need additional help in the future!
❤🎉❤ very much profound
I hope it helped you, Mogowe! Thank you for watching!
After reading the short story and watching this lecture I realized that possibly Arnold is in a way the devil. He lures Connie out of the house, his shoes not fitting right, and the fact that he knows what her family is doing at that exact moment. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" introduces several themes from struggles between male and females, the difference between reality and imagination, and even loss of innocence with the addition of sinister behavior. Throughout the story, I was very interested on how the author left so many questions unanswered. This allows the reader to interpret the themes and plot of the story and my guess is that Connie was taken by Arnold who himself was the devil. Connie's innocence and adolescence was taken, but she stood in the doorway deciding if she should or should not go. I still am uncertain if this was possibly all a dream, but I do not think it was.
Yeah, there are so many ways to feel frightened by Friend. He’s the devil or he’s just a really creepy perpetrator that any one of us could pass by on the street. That’s what frightens me the most!
Him being some form of demonic figure instantly stuck out to me. So much is off about him, and so much is just irregular or oddly specific. he's inconsistent, but he's not stupid. His shoes not fitting but him knowing so much about connie is the perfect contrast of this and the actual inspiration for friend opens up so many new doorways for that,
Yeah, he really seems like he’s the devil.
I think he represents and may in fact actually be Death itself. He knows too much about everyone and he keeps addressing Connie like her end is near. Also death is constantly referenced in the story. In fact, the story used to be titled Death and the maiden.
Great video. Really helped me understand a lot of the questions I left this brilliant story with.
I’m so glad to hear this! Thanks for sharing, Tony! I’ve got a few other videos on lit that may help you in the future (hopefully!).
Thank you so much for this!!
I hope it helped!!
I also truly believe that Connie is in a dream like state and that it is all just a figment of her imagination. Maybe she wishes her family would pay more attention to her, and do more family activities, like going to church for example. I feel that the reason she could be easily lured by the evil person/spirit or whatever it may be, is because although she is beautiful, she is weak. Weak minded, with the wrong things as priorities, and she stands on weak ground. I enjoyed this story very much.
Let’s hope it’s just a dream! The other possibilities are too awful to think about!
Great book. Great review. Thanks
Thanks for watching! Hope it helped!
I think the demon allegory makes the most sense to me. To me, it seems like an examination of female sexuality, and that loss of innocence. A woman’s first encounter with her own sexuality is something incredibly shocking. Very good video.
Yes, female sexuality is a theme for sure. And Friend is a demon or even just a basic predator that is, unfortunately, everywhere around vulnerable people.
This story really struck out to me because in the way Connie was portrayed. They show her as a girl who is beautiful and she knows it, in a way they portray her self-confidence in a negative manner and as something that ended up being a consequence. I think that the theory of Friend being a devil figure may be accurate. He kept being depicted as someone who is disguised, he was dressed as somebody he was not and this disguise was in order to attract and lure out Connie. As mentioned in the lecture the devil cannot be forceful he has to lure and tempt others, and this is what Friend attempted to do with Connie.
Thanks for sharing!
This story really creeped me out! I noticed quite a bit of things upon reading this. The first thing that stood out to me the most was him knowing so much about Connie. This was automatically seen as a red flag to me. Another thing I noticed was the inconsistencies in his phrases and his boots not fitting correctly. It’s easy to portray the man as the devil or something demonic because of how well he disguises himself in order to lure Connie into temptation.
Friend is one of the creepiest villains in literature, for sure!
Love your analysis, but also you’re so beautiful!!
Thank you! You are too kind!!
Because of the way Connie was portrayed, I think she was unduly fixated on her beauty and ignorant of the possible consequences of unfavorable events. Connie's predicament stems from the fact that she doesn't feel valued at home and utilizes her appearance and behavior to gain recognition and praise from boys. The story shows that life is more than just laughs and that she lived in her own universe. The girl's enlightenment illustrates their understanding that their lives don't seem to be like others and that ignorance isn't bliss.
Thanks for sharing!
I personally believe the theory that Arnold is the devil here. There are just so many clues. For one, the r’s being taken away from Arnold Friend, which makes it An Old Fiend. The second is the numbers on his car which I do think may relate to his age and those of his victims. Third, he says he will get her yet never takes her forcefully. Instead, he turns it into this weird game where he must seduce her to win her over. I feel like that alone, the “he will get her,” should be a huge red flag. The fact that he tells her that he knows everything about her and knows a lot is also very concerning. If someone ever acted like this towards me, I’d know something was wrong with them and their intent was likely malicious. The fact that she is not instantly repelled is scary to me and he seems to know that too.
Anyhow, thank you so much for this lecture, Dr. Kosters. I always find the lectures to help me understand a story much more than just reading it as the words seem to play tricks on my brain. It’s like no matter how many times I read it, I don’t fully understand it. It’s much more easily understood for me when spoken.
Thanks for sharing, and I’m glad the lecture helped!
Arnold friend seems like one of those david lynch villains, who are able to look through you and exploit your insecurities. I think he is some kind of demon who is able to look at connies fantasies but not quite understand them, he understands her fears but only uses them to terrorize her. Maybe david lynch used this story to write his films lol
I really like this analysis! It makes him so much more transparent as a character!!
Point of clarification: Judges is no the 33rd book of the Bible; that's Jeremiah.
Yikes! Thank you for pointing that out, Collin!! I need to have a more rigorous review process, apparently!
I was taught it was backwards...starting at the back and counting to 33. Maybe that's wrong too!
@@melissamohr4151 There are 66 books in the Bible, so it wouldn't be judges that way either.
@@melissamohr4151 I don't know how I came up with that. I need to go back into my research and see where I misread something!
Would it be the Old Testament? Counting backwards to 33?