The story reads to me as a psychological coming-of-age story with Christianity under tones. The story begins with Connie just living her life like any other teenager. Going out to the mall with her friends, meeting boys, etc. The story seems like the kind where we watch her journey that may include love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Except Connie is extremely vain and only values outward appearance. Immediately, my impression of Connie is that despite that she is simply an “innocent lamb” she is committing a sin in her case is vanity while Arnold Friend could be seen as “The Devil.” Based on his demeanor and approach to Connie. He talks sweetly to her and somehow knows her name despite Connie never meeting this man. He appears unexpectedly at her house and drives a conspicous vehicle along with a friend. Two strange men who want Connie to come with them. They never expressed what their intentions were, yet Connie feared for her life. Ultimately, giving in to the threats and the harassing, Connie gives in and is lured outside, never to be seen again. This is also referenced in Paragraph 10 of Korb’s Essay: “Connie, of course, does not recognize the story’s demonic elements when the reader does. These references quickly add up: her utterances of “hell” and “Christ” when Arnold shows up; his supernatural awareness of the details of Connie’s life, particularly his ability to “see” the family barbecue; his vampiric inability to enter Connie’s house”
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