Arnold Friend Analysis

Predators and their prey come in various shapes and sizes. When we usually hear the words, predators or prey, we tend to think about something like lions, preying on gazelles in the wildlife. Arnold Friend, however, in the story “Where are you going, Where have you been?” by Joyce Carol Oates, Arnold is not a lion preying on gazelle, but he is a middle-aged man that becomes predatory and preys on 15-year-old Connie. Scheming and being a predatorial is what make Arnold Friend the villainous man he is.
Arnold Friend, is a middle-aged man that uses himself as bait to fool and befriend young Connie. His choice of appearance for himself to project as if he is the same age as Connie is, “light faded jeans stuffed into black, scuffed boots, a belt that pulled his waist in and showed how lean he was, and a white pull-over shirt that was a little soiled and showed the hard small muscles of his arms and shoulders.” With this appearance that Arnold Friend presents to Connie
He sees her the night before at the restaurant, she does not even tell him her name, or where she lives. Being the predatory person he is, Arnold Friend talks to Connie as if she is his possession when says “I know my Connie.” Connie then tries to use reverse-psychology against Arnold Friend to make it appear as if she is not who he thinks she is. Unfortunately, being the crafty person Arnold Friend is he informs Connie, “I know your parents and sister are gone somewheres and I know where and how long they're going to be gone, and I know who you were with last night, and your best girl friend's name is Betty. Right?" Eventually, Connie tells Arnold Friend and Ellie they have to leave before her dad gets home. As always, Arnold Friend has an answer to Connie’s statements when he states. “He ain't coming. He's at a barbecue.” Just like an animal in the wild, they will stalk and intimidate their prey before the