The Ruin of Vanity

Connie, a typical female teenager, lives a life that revolves around two major facets, appearance and music. Although it is natural for young girls to be heavily concerned with their looks, Connie takes this concept to an extreme and becomes narcissistic, creating an overconfident and vain individual. The crux of Connie’s character circulates around the idea that she understands that her looks are paramount and truly her only worth as a person. Her confidence depends on the state of her appearance, forcing her to constantly keep an updated impression. Her need for being validated based on her looks creates a vulnerable psyche, leading to her ultimate ruin.

By acknowledging her beauty, Connie only drifts deeper into an unhealthy and egotistical lifestyle. The make-up of Connie’s character holds her own beauty as the definitive quality of her personality. This is evident when the narrator states, “she knew she was pretty and that was everything” (1¶). Connie is even arrogant enough to believe that her mother secretly favors her over June due to her better looks. While visiting the restaurant “shaped like a big bottle”, Connie’s vanity is exposed once again while walking through the parking lot with Eddie. As the narrator explains, “Connie couldn’t help but let her eyes wander over windshields and faces all around her” (8¶). The necessity to constantly remind herself of her good looks displays a clear lack of poise in her personality. She requires a gratifying glance in a reflection to once again reassure herself that she is indeed good looking.

Connie’s open exhibition of her beauty and arrogance is the main factor contributing to Arnold Friend’s creepy interest in Connie. This disturbing character first appears when Connie is walking away from the restaurant. He jeers at her and barks, “Gonna get you, baby” (8¶). From the get-go, he has clearly taken in interest in Connie from his blunt remark. Her arrogant behavior is furthered when she rejects the barbecue invitation presented by her mother. Connie rolls “her eyes to let her mother know just what she thought of it (13¶). By excluding herself from the barbecue, Connie creates a greater rift between herself and the rest of her family. It is natural for a teen to want to distance themselves from their family. Connie is clearly struggling to fit into her own skin and uses rebellious actions to ease the transition into womanhood. She is associated with a history of poor judgment that can be viewed as a stress outlet for Connie’s confusing stage of adolescent life. While unsure of her role in society, Connie’s mind is malleable and easily manipulated by a seductive influence. This unfortunately gives Arnold Friend an accessible path that he can follow right into Connie’s life.

From the initial moment that Arnold and Ellie pull up in the car, the reader is aware of their malicious intent. At first, Connie is enticed by Arnold. In her eyes, he is simply masculine teen boy, driving a golden jalopy convertible, with a radio playing Bobby King. The playing of Bobby King on Arnold’s part was a clever way to gain quick entry into Connie’s comfort level. Prior to Arnold’s arrival, Connie was singing along to a Bobby King song. How he knew that she enjoyed Bobby King is a mystery, but it is undeniable that his utilization of popular music was a sure way to influence her. The pivotal moment in their encounter occurs when she questions his age. Connie grows substantially more suspicious of the two figures who actually appear to be closer to middle aged men than their teen facades.

Connie’s depressing encounter with Arnold illustrates how the proper exploitations of the instabilities of a personality can strongly influence and even control the targeted individual. Arnold specifically preys on Connie because of his knowledge of her obsession over appearance. Her preoccupation with her looks generates the ideal mentality for Arnold's manipulation. As a willing victim by the story’s conclusion, her incapacity to draw strength from her hollow persona enables Arnold to direct her thoughts and actions.

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