Biblical Allusion in Joyce Carol Oates Story Where are...

Joyce Carol Oates short story Where are you going? Where have you been? runneth over with Biblical allusion and symbolism. The symbols of Arnold Friend, his disguise, and the music that runs through the story contribute to an overall feeling of devilishness, deception, and unease. The depiction of Arnold Friend runs parallel to the common conception of the Devil. Many aspects of his outward appearance, as well as his behavior, contribute to this by portraying him in a sinister manner. His nose is long and hawklike and he has a slippery smile. His greasy boots dont fit him right, as if his feet [dont] go all the way down. The stereotypical Beelzebub is often seen with hooves. When he draws his sign – the sinister letter X†¦show more content†¦The color gold has connotations of vanity and greed – two deadly sins. Writing, a secret code, appears on Arnolds car: the numbers 33, 19, and 17. They refer to a verse of the Bible, verse 19:17 of the 33rd book, Judges. Oates reinforces the Biblical comparison of Arnold as the Devil by referring to this verse: When he looked and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, Where are you going? Where did you come from? The phrase on his car, Done by a crazy woman driver, is something that would make a child laugh. The other phrase painted on Arnolds car, Man the flying saucers, is referred to as being used by kids the year before (Also, the phrase can be decoded to spell out HESATANLUCIFER meaning another devil reference). Arnolds car is an important part of his disguise: he tries to appeal to the younger generation, as if he makes a habit of preying on them. But, he falls short, and his disguise appears awkward before it finally breaks down. The reader feels more tension as he progresses through the story and comes upon these pieces of Arnolds Devilish – albeit oftentimes poorly constructed – disguise. Arnold Friends faà §ade gives the reader the feeling that something is wrong, as if Oates were trying to persuade Connie away from her impending doom. When Arnold first pulls into Connies driveway, the reader is alarmed. Connie notices that he is actually much older than he appears and the reader knows thatShow MoreRelated Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Oates1222 Words   |  5 Pagescomical biblical suggestions for abstinence until marriage even while the majority of those targeted teens are viewing the world as a more and more sexual place. So many views are weaving in and out of teenagers newly formed adolescent minds that any effective argument for responsible attitudes or analysis of sexual behavior in teens should be expressed with a certain minimal degree of clarity. Unfortunately, this essential lucidity of advice is missing in the short story â€Å"Where are You Going, Where