"A&P" by John Updike Analysis
A&P is a short story written by John Updike that targets American citizens who were living in the 1950s and 1960s. Readers are introduced to the main character, Sammy, who is a 19 year old cashier at the A&P grocery store. Sammy is a normal, relatable teenager who has his own opinions about his job, customers, and life. He introduces three customers who catch his eye, Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goony-Goony. Sammy vividly describes their appearances, stating for one of the girls, "There was this chunky one, with the two-piece-it was bright green and the seams on the bra were still sharp..." (Updike 161). Based off of this quote from the text, the three girls walk into the grocery store wearing nothing but bathing suits, which influences the main conflict of the story.
Readers are able to sympathize with Sammy because he is a middle-class teenager who works a mundane job. When the main conflict occurs, the manager (Lengel) tells the three girls they have to dress more appropriately when they come into the A&P. Lengel states, "Girls, I don't want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It's our policy" (Updike 164). This conflict drives Sammy to do something unexpected. Sammy quits as an attempt to be their "unsuspected hero" (Updike 164). This impulsive and mindless action leads Sammy jobless and with no income. His reasoning was to "go against the grain" because he couldn't stand the way Lengel talked to the three girls about the store policy. This idea symbolizes the modernism that is to come in future generations of being different and going against the norm.
Sammy quitting was an impulsive and reckless action, however it seems as though he was looking for an excuse to quit. It was clear he was tired of his job and was looking for a change, despite the consequences that could come from losing his job. Through the way Sammy's mindset was when quitting, in five to ten years Sammy could be doing transformative and new things.
Very well written! I agree that it was a reckless action for Sammy to quit his job, however I can understand why he did it. I'm unsure of whether he was tired of his job or not, but it was mentioned that if he did back down on his decision to quit, he would back down in similar situations for the rest of his life. He also understood that his job at A&P was temporary and his future did not include him working at the grocery store for the rest of his life. Furthermore, the ways that Lengel handled the situation with the girls in the store competed with Sammy's morals. Quitting his job would not only be morally right in his mind, but he had hoped that the girls would overhear and watch him.
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