Please compare and contrast in Oates's and Poe's stories:Arnold Friend in Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”and...

While Joyce Carol Oates's "Where Are You Going, Where Have
You Been" treats the subject of a young teenage girl' superficial and rebellious
behavior and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado" chronicles the plan of revenge
of a man, there are many similarities to the two stories as they recount tales of gothic
horror. Here are some commonalities and differences between the two
narratives:

EVIL INTENT AND
DECEPTION

• Montesor feigns the desire for
  Fortunato's expert opinion on his new wine


• Arnold Friend
  pretends to be younger and acts at first like the other boys to whom Connie
  speaks


• Poe's Montesor intends revenge upon Fortunato who,
  supposedly, has subjected him to "a thousand injuries." 
  


• He lures Fortunato on the pretext of tasting the
  Amontillado wine. 


• Oates's Arnold Friend takes advantage
  of a teen's naivete, choosing her for his victim in a malicious plan of seduction. 
  


• (contrast) However, there seems no motivation other than
  evil for Friend's kidnapping of Connie than for Montesor's luring of Fortunato to his
  death.

USE OF
SYMBOLS

• In Oates's story, music is symbolic as
  popular music exerts a strong, seductive influence upon Connie. 
  


• The secret code of numbers on Arnold Friend's car may be
  pertinent Bible verses. 


• There is a religious suggestion
  to Arnold Friend, whose name without the Rs spells An old Fiend. 
  


• He has trouble walking in his boots as though he is a
  hoofed animal


• In Poe's story, the Montresor catacombs are
  significant; the bones lying "promiscuously,"suggesting
  death.


• The trowel, symbolic of the brickmason is waved by
  Montesor in mockery of Fortunato's inquiry about his being a
  Mason.


• The Montesor coat of arms suggests how Montesor
  will crush his victim, Fortunato

PSYCHOLOGICAL
HORROR

• Poe's story follows the classical gothic
  genre with the irrational main character, the dark setting of the catacombs, the masque
  of the Carnival, and the use of the macabre.  All of this contributes to the horror, but
  none so much as the walling in of Fortunato who cries out, laughs, and then becomes
  silent in his psychological terror.


• Oates's story is
  Southern Gothic in which the normal environment becomes dangerous because of the
  psychological terror.  There is a believable character in a realistic setting, who is
  then subjected to psychological horror.


• (contrast) Arnold
  Friend employs emotional intimidation as well as psychological, threatening Connie what
  will happen to her mother and sister if she does not come with
  him.


• (contrast) Montesor employs physical violence as
  well as psychological terror when he chains his enemy. He does warn his victim before
  taking such advantage of him.