Why Sammy Quits
Wanting to Get Away
The short story “A&P” was written by John Updike in the mid-1950’s about a young man trapped in a planned middle class lifestyle that he wanted out of. During this time in history most teenagers around Sammy’s age were responsible for earning a living to support their families. Sammy is a young man who works in a grocery store in the same small town of which he grew up in. One day, during one of his hot summer shifts three young women walked in the grocery store. Following their arrival, Sammy began to notice how they were dressed. He noticed they were in revealing clothing like they were going to enjoy themselves a day at the beach. Not being accustomed to seeing this type of dress from women in particular, it drew a great …show more content…
Smith, Smith analyzes Sammy’s actual view on them women coming in the grocery store. Sammy believed that the women were stuck up members of the middle class. This middle class life was a lifestyle that Sammy did not want to be a part of. In the analysis the author states that “Sammy views quitting the job as his way to assert his own independence” (Smith 2), this is very true when it comes to Sammy’s view of how is life has been planned for him to become a structured member of the middle class. During the time of the story ‘s setting usually a young man around Sammy’s age has a life planned for …show more content…
Lengel says to Sammy “Sammy, you don't want to do this to your Mom and Dad” (Updike 26). This quote displays that this job wasn’t to please Sammy but to please his parents. Within the last few paragraphs, the author states repeatedly how Sammy doesn’t want to disappoint his parents. Within the story the tone the author uses while Sammy talks about what he sees while working clearly displays Sammy is fed up with a planned life. The author uses the main character’s attitude towards the manager, his co-workers and his parents to fuel Sammy’s decision to quit his job. This example displays that Sammy was not working for himself but to provide for his family. During the time in which the story took place not wanting to take care of your family was outside of the norm and Sammy acknowledged that repeatedly throughout the
The short story “A&P” was written by John Updike in the mid-1950’s about a young man trapped in a planned middle class lifestyle that he wanted out of. During this time in history most teenagers around Sammy’s age were responsible for earning a living to support their families. Sammy is a young man who works in a grocery store in the same small town of which he grew up in. One day, during one of his hot summer shifts three young women walked in the grocery store. Following their arrival, Sammy began to notice how they were dressed. He noticed they were in revealing clothing like they were going to enjoy themselves a day at the beach. Not being accustomed to seeing this type of dress from women in particular, it drew a great …show more content…
Smith, Smith analyzes Sammy’s actual view on them women coming in the grocery store. Sammy believed that the women were stuck up members of the middle class. This middle class life was a lifestyle that Sammy did not want to be a part of. In the analysis the author states that “Sammy views quitting the job as his way to assert his own independence” (Smith 2), this is very true when it comes to Sammy’s view of how is life has been planned for him to become a structured member of the middle class. During the time of the story ‘s setting usually a young man around Sammy’s age has a life planned for …show more content…
Lengel says to Sammy “Sammy, you don't want to do this to your Mom and Dad” (Updike 26). This quote displays that this job wasn’t to please Sammy but to please his parents. Within the last few paragraphs, the author states repeatedly how Sammy doesn’t want to disappoint his parents. Within the story the tone the author uses while Sammy talks about what he sees while working clearly displays Sammy is fed up with a planned life. The author uses the main character’s attitude towards the manager, his co-workers and his parents to fuel Sammy’s decision to quit his job. This example displays that Sammy was not working for himself but to provide for his family. During the time in which the story took place not wanting to take care of your family was outside of the norm and Sammy acknowledged that repeatedly throughout the