Arnold Friend Symbolism

Symbolism
The definition of symbolism is the practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning. Gilman and Oates present the reader with symbolism to represent different aspects of the story. In these short stories, many of the objects and people in the story indicate a different or underlying meaning to them.

In the short story, “Where are you going, Where have you been?” one of the main characters has a significant underlying symbol attached to himself. Arnold Friend represented a very dark and deep persona. Arnold represented the Devil. During the story, Arnold tried tricking Connie into doing something that she didn’t want to do nor was she comfortable in doing. The first glance of the symbolic,

What could this signify? Another depiction in the story that indicates Arnold is the devil is through his boots. Connie notices something odd when Arnold stood awkwardly when he gets out of the car while trying to keep his balance and not to fall. This could indicate the Arnold has hooves, as such the devil is known to have. In addition, Connie also notices that the size of the boots are way too big for him as well and when attempting to walk “stepped toward the porch lurching. He almost fell but managed to keep his balance” (Oates105). This specifies that Arnold does not have regular feet but in fact has feet like the devil, non-human constantly stumbling and unable to walk correctly like a normal person. As we know the devil possesses supernatural powers. Arnold presents these powers by telling Connie exactly what her parents are doing, where they are at and what they look like. How would Arnold know any of this information with ought fully knowing these characters is impossible. “Arnold Friend’s ability to foresee things are supernatural powers available to him due to his wickedness. He seems to know exactly what her parents are doing at the barbeque. He even tells Connie that her mother is with a fat woman, husking corn”

One example of symbolism that Gilman uses to develop character in the story is the title itself, the yellow wallpaper. According to Agoes Law, “” The Yellow Wallpaper” is symbolic for the main character’s sanity and her entrapment, physically and mentally” (Law). Throughout the reading, the character is slowly losing her sanity. She is constantly telling her husband that she is depressed and unhappy but he does nothing about it besides to tell her to sleep or take medication to sleep to “help” her. However, this is doing more harm than good. She is slowly losing her mind and her sanity due to the yellow wallpaper. She begins to see “someone” inside the wallpaper. This is where we are presented another example of symbolism that further develops her character. The person inside the yellow wallpaper is herself. The symbolic meaning of the yellow wallpaper contributes not only to the development of her character but also the theme of the story. “The yellow wallpaper acts like a mental entrapment for the main character. At the end of the story, the main character rips down the yellow wallpaper to release the woman behind the paper. This was symbolic because even though she saw a woman, this woman was her” (Law). Through the constant entrapment from the husband, the depression of the character slowly gets worse. In addition to the yellow wallpaper, the room itself is also