The Religious Symbolism in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

Biblical and Religious symbols are seamlessly hidden in everyday life like a book with no stitches. Part of the problem with being blind to the signs and symbols is that not many people have the knowledge of religious references. Religious symbols are portrayed through music, art, movies, and books. Founders of Forever 21, Don and Jin Chang, were placing “ John 3:16” hidden on the bottom of bags. Depictions and verses of the bible are often favored towards god, but rarely the latter. The Devil’s in the details and, like a book we must open our minds to the continuous concealed messages in society. Biblical allusion and symbolism are hidden in “Where Are You Going? Where Have You Been?”. The answer is revealed as the main antagonist, Arnold Friend, symbolizes the Devil. Sinking our claws into the text further, his “disguise”, outward appearance, and behavior all contribute to Arnold Friend portraying the Devil in a godawful manner

In the beginning of the story it describes Connie, the main protagonist, as a young two versioned girl with a version of her at home and a version of her when not at home. Her mother, who would always pester her about not being like her sister, who “ Had been pretty once too” always compares her to June. June, Connie's sister, is a plain, steady girl. Connie’s father didn't talk much, he would work, eat, then go to sleep. It seems apparent that Connie is being isolated. With being isolated the Devil can feel intrigued to hunt for loneliness. Connie’s actions, such as lying to where she was going after being dropped off by her father, and spending time with eddie for hours on end really started to show the true non-innocent girl she truly was. Her first encounter with the Devil, brought upon due to bad intentions, is a “boy” with shaggy black hair and a jalopy wagging a finger and laughing while saying “Gonna get you, baby” right outside the drive-in restaurant. Our point is reinforced when “Without Eddie noticing anything” is said. The Devil is only targeting Connie, which would make sense that she is the only one who can see him.

The following day Connie’s family leaves for a barbeque at their aunt's house, leaving Connie home alone. Arnold Friend pulled into Connie's driveway with a shiny, golden convertible car. The Golden jalopy symbolizes the Devil’s greed and vanity, two of the seven deadly sins, which illustrates to us that the Devils “in the driver seat” of greed. We can relate this back to “The Devil and Tom Walker” which contain a moral allegory that offers warning against greed and pursuit of material gain. Sinful doings are met with punishment, and the Devil is in control of those souls driven by wealth. Arnold’s car also depicts the numbers 33, 19, and 17. These numbers refer to a verse of the bible, Judges verse 19:17. The author, Joyce Oates, fortifies the connection of Arnold being the Devil through 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?’”.

As the story progresses, Arnolds “disguise” seems to fall flat with Connie unfolding the truth about his appearance. Arnold tries to be a youthful looking “boy”, these tricks are often used to get into the young kid crowds, and make teens believe he is one of them. He tried this trick because he has seen connie hangout at the drive-in restaurant where older kids usually hangout. “The driver’s glasses were metallic and mirrored everything in miniature”. Arnold and Eddie both wear sunglasses to conceal that they possess pale, dead eye sockets. Who would want to see a person with cat-like eyes at one's front door? Connie also noticies his shaggy, shaggy black hair, “Black hair that looked crazy as a wig”. He wears this wig to give off as someone with an ordinary set of hair, but it's true intention is to hide his red horns. His nose is long and hawklike similar traits to the Devil. Arnold, when approaching the door, stumbles in his greasy leather boots. Arnold’s boots don't fit him, indicating that his feet are actually hooves. Which is why his feet don't reach all the way. His face also seemed to be constricted by child, his eyebrows were “Thick and black as if painted with black tarlike material.”, and “He grinned so broadly his eyes became slits” pure indication of cat like Devil eyes.

The name Arnold Friend has symbolism, it's in the name. If you were to take the letter “r” out of the name and space the words around you would be left with “An Old Fiend”. Arnold also struggles in uttering words of faith. “But even this “Christ” sounded forced”. To no surprise even mentioning religious names or idioms, possesses great difficulty. This gives a sense of challenging the lord, which is something the devil must not undertake..

The Devil is sly and skillful with years upon years of experiences dealing with society and mankind. Satan is incredibly powerful, more powerful than any man, and more powerful than any angel. Arnold knew Connie's parents were over at their aunt's house at a barbecue, he also knew that her name was Connie. We are met with him “guessing” her name, “How do you know what my name is?”, “It’s Connie.”. Being able to get information is one of his powerful traits. When Arnold drew his sign into the air it seemed to still be lingering it's as if he possessed supernatural powers, and with powers comes a following. Ellie is the perfect example of a “Right Hand Man” who tags along with the devil. Faust is a German tale of a man who is not content with life and ultimately goes by the name of Mephistopheles. If you are met with Mephistopheles your fate has already been sealed, damning people who were already damned, rarely putting in effort. Much like Mephistopheles, Ellie represents him quite well.