Truman Capote's Short Story 'Miriam'
The illustration above is a representation of the story Miriam by Truman Capote. In the short story “Miriam” a young girl named Miriam is portrayed as death. The Quote picked from the story is the most vital to the story. In this quote Mrs. Miller is speaking to Miriam when she first finds out they have the same name. This is keen to the story; it is no coincidence they have the same name. As time moves in a chronological order Miriam arrives at Mrs. Miller’s house, this is where it becomes visible that Miriam is not a normal child. She has a very wide vocabulary and her eyes looked mature, like a grown woman’s. She also knew where Mrs. Miriam lived as if she’s been there and even saying "That's no question at all. What's your name? What's …show more content…
Arnold Friend is an archetype of death. Being very persistent he tells Connie “gonna get you baby” (Oates 430) and proceeds to follow through with his plan, consisting of using many mind games and in the end winning the power struggle. Arnold friend seems to know a great deal about Connie’s home life and private life without her having to disclose any information. This story’s setting is before social media so the only way he could’ve obtained this information is through stalking or to be a close family friend is disguise. The tone is dark and frightening because Connie does not seem to have control of herself, she “watches as her body leave the house and advances towards Arnolds arms” finally accepting defeat no longer fighting to exist. Joyce Carol Oates said once that Arnold friend is based from a real serial killer and a musician, 2 real people. Arnold friend is based off real people, but it is only a façade, he is death in this story he comes for Connie and forces her to give in to his …show more content…
Neither character could maintain control as death wraps its arms around them until full submission is given. Miriam tells the elder woman what she wanted and the next day the elder lady without thinking about it goes out and purchases these items. Arnold friend gets Connie to willingly leave the house with his intuitive complex mind games. Looking at the plot of the stories you can see the similarities. The characters meet when they are out late. Then they meet again at the protagonist’s house. Both antagonists are persistent, and both protagonists lose control then give into the antagonist’s requests. Both stories leave a dark open ending. Both antagonist characters are archetypes of death being extremely persistent and controlling. Death has been depicted as various ways it is truthful to say death appears in numerous forms. Additionally, it is truthful to say death is inevitable. Although you may not know what form it will approach as, you can be guaranteed it will
Analysis Of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
1033 Words | 5 PagesIn “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” there are many theories as to who Arnold Friend is and what his role. The story does not introduce Arnold till the middle and end of the story when Arnold Friend and Ellie Oscar, his friend, decides to pull up to Connie’s house trying to be gentle, but threatening at the same time. The tone sets the mood of the story, the way he talks is suave, so he doesn’t scare her as much but you could sense a little of annoyance in his voice when she refuses. He asks her to come ride with him, but then starts to threaten her family so she would get out the house and be with him.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Character
890 Words | 4 PagesArnold Friend was there to take Connie away; away from her childhood and home, which never quite felt like home until her fantasy world deteriorated and reality set it. The next moment is pivotal, this is when Connie forgets her hedonism and becomes something of much more substance. Before Connie studies Arnold Friend’s abnormal personality and erratic behavior she is fascinated by him and even worries that she is ill prepared for this
Arnold Friend Character Analysis
1137 Words | 5 PagesHowever, this is countered when Connie notes that “he was much older—thirty, maybe more” (315), a fact that frightens her. What Arnold is to Connie is a challenge of her want to be an adult, and a trail of her ability to deal with adult issue. Such as a man who singles her out sexual reason. Her wish to be an adult is something she seeks while passively avoiding it. Her avoidance is marked by day dreams of puppy love romance, like a typical teenager; yet, her attractive flaunt to be mature is presented as if she seeks to be an
Analysis Of 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'
1092 Words | 5 PagesHowever, this changes when Arnold together with a friend show up at Connie’s home while her parents are away. She realizes there is more to Arnold than meets the eye and that her life and that of her family could be in danger. An article written in an issue of life magazine in 1966
Carol Oates's Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'
359 Words | 2 PagesArnold Friend, the antagonist in Joyce Carol Oates’s story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” represents the devil who arrives to bring Connie to the underworld. For example, his unusual appearance implies that he is an inhuman being, unlike what he wants to lead on. As he struggles to walk from his car to the front door, Connie notes that “his whole face was a mask... tanned down to his throat...as if he had..makeup on..but had forgotten about his throat”(5). Arnold Friend covers his demonic features in order to pass as a teenager with the intention of deceiving Connie into leaving with him.
Examples Of Foreshadowing In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
610 Words | 3 PagesConnie enjoyed going to the mall with her friends, and meeting boys at her local diner. One night, on the way back to her home, she passed a man with black hair in a golden car, who later showed up at her doorstep and introduced himself as Arnold Friend. He attempts to convince her to come out and take a drive with him, and after a long period of time and the eventual breakdown of Connie, he succeeds. The author of this story uses foreshadowing and symbolism to develop the theme that your decisions can affect the course of your life.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Theme Analysis
1255 Words | 6 PagesConnie uses her attitude and appearance to attract boys. But she is not aware of the reality of the society in which she lives. Connie is living in a fantasy world, but when she gets trapped by Arnold Friend she is put into a scary reality. There
Examples Of Allusions In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
854 Words | 4 PagesHe tries to seduce and persuade her to go with him for a ride similar to how the Devil lured Eve with a shiny and mysterious apple. Oates displays evidence of biblical allusions regarding Arnold Friend’s appearance and persona in the story by depicting his physical characteristics, his supernatural knowledge, and his demeanor as an image of evil. Connie wants to be desired for her sexuality and Arnold possesses this by his tone throughout the story. His appearance comes
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Comparison
1190 Words | 5 PagesIn the story, Connie looked at the phrase “man the flying saucers and she felt like “words meant something to her that she did not yet know” (p.) which if she was on drugs she might not be aware of the fact that what she is seeing is not real, but eventually when she is sober she will understand. The ambiguity of Arnold Friend leaves many unanswered questions for readers. Unless Joyce Carol Oates decides to reveal the real Arnold Friend, readers may never know if he was in fact the devil or just a figment of Connie’s
Literary Devices In Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
804 Words | 4 PagesIn her short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates utilizes a variety of literary devices to strengthen the story in its entirety. This short story is essentially about a 16-year-old girl named Connie and the conflict between her desire to be mature and her desire to remain an adolescent. Throughout the story, the audience sees this conflict through her words in addition to through her behavior. The audience is also introduced to Arnold Friend, a rather peculiar man, who essentially kidnaps her. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates functions and is additionally meaningful because of her usage of literary devices.
Analysis Of Where Are You Going Where Have You Been
1203 Words | 5 PagesThroughout the story, there are many instances: the illogical time and settings, the similarity between Arnold and Connie and the unrealistic events show that the meeting between Connie and Arnold Friend is a dream. The dream is also a preparation for Connie before she steps onto the stage of being an adult. Connie’s dream begins when she refuses to go to her aunt’s house for barbecue party. She stays home, and under the warmness of the sun, she begins her day dreaming about love and the boy she has met the night before. In the beginning, the author writes “Connie sat with her eyes closed in the sun…”
Theme Of The Scarlet Ibis And Lennie's Death
717 Words | 3 PagesLennie before he died. George didn’t want to kill Lennie. George was apprehensive to kill Lennie. Throughout the story “The Scarlet Ibis”, Brother was always disappointed by Doodle no matter how hard Doodle tried. George stated he was never mad at Lennie in Lennie’s final moments, but he was frustrated with him throughout the story.
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Arnold Friend Analysis
817 Words | 4 PagesReluctantly, her parents allow her to stay home alone. A few hours later, a familiar gold jalopy pulls up to her house. The driver announces to Connie that his name is Arnold Friend. His unusual physical appearance, his tone of voice, and what he may symbolize frighten the Connie.
Character Analysis Of Connie In 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'
984 Words | 4 PagesInstead of realizing the danger that she was in, Connie was focused on what Arnold Friend was wearing and how attractive he was. Connie’s obsession with finding her own sexuality overpowered her gut feeling of danger. In an analysis of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, Barbara Wiedemann discusses how the antagonist Arnold Friend is based upon serial killer Charles Schmid, who murdered several young girls during the 1960s. In the analysis, Wiedemann
Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Literary Analysis
694 Words | 3 PagesOates’s biography explained her fiction writing as a mixture violence and sexual obsession. The writing style definitely fits the plot point of this story with both of her literary ingredients being present in not only Arnold Friend but in Connie as well. The Protagonist Connie is presented in a very self-centered way. She is obsessed with her looks and often fantasizes about all the boys she meets.
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