The Evolution Of An Antagonist

5 Pages 1237 Words

When reading a story, the average person’s attention usually goes mostly toward the main character. While this is still the case in Joyce Carol Oates’, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” One still can’t ignore the antagonist, Arnold Friend who is a fairly complex character that slowly unravels, revealing his true self to the main character, Connie. His character takes a dramatic turn and leaves the reader in disbelief, because of the actions that take place. The story leaves the reader hanging in the end, which undoubtedly is the reason why the antagonist has such a strong pull on their emotions. In the following text I will explain several things. First, being how the antagonist evolves, second, how the reader sees this change and lastly will be how the main character sees the protagonist and what effects he has on her.
In the first part of the story, the only mention of our friend, Arnold Friend, is basically a case of foreshadowing. “It was a boy with shaggy black hair, in a convertible jalopy painted gold” (388) J.C. Oates gives the reader a little sample of the character but not really enough to make him stand out right away. Later on, his actions gradually get worse which really leaves a bad taste in the reader’s mouth that does not want to go away. If the character’s transformation had not been as gradual, it would not have had the same heart pounding effect it did originally. Because this change is so gradual the reader does not quite see what is brewing until she is in a great deal of trouble. Arnold’s character seems to change both physically and mentally throughout the story. At first, the average reader would most likely think he would be Connie’s age or maybe an older high school or college student. But as the story progresses, he seems to become older and both the reader and Connie become less sure of his intentions. Although Connie is unsure, the reader can still tell Mr. Fri...