A & P John Updike Analysis

Shirley

Sammy’s Realization

A&P written by John Updike in 1961 in which the hero and the first person narrator, Sammy, a nineteen year old teenager who made a serious decision, took a stand for the girl’s right, to be able to wear what suits them. The conflict occurred when the manager of A&P, Lengel, came out of the door marked “Manager” hauling out a box of cabbage and met eyes with the girls. He tells the girls that the A&P isn’t and beach and there is policy they have to follow in order for them to be able to shop at the supermarket. Queenie, the leader of the girl group, argued they were dressed appropriately and that she only came to A&P to buy the fancy Herring Snacks. In retaliation, Sammy quits his job as a cashier and walks
However, Sammy’s decision was not affected by Lengel’s attitude towards the girls’ clothing. For a considerable amount of time, Sammy was deciding whether to quit or not but because of the length of time he has been working at the A&P and his daily encounters with the customers. During the years he has been working for the A&P, he resisted quitting his job because of his parents. Considering the decision to quit his job at the A&P, Lengel, the man who follows and enforces the policy, has known Sammy’s parent for a long time, and tells Sammy that he should reconsider what he is doing and how it would affect his
For example, Sammy rates the young girls wearing bikinis. Like many other teenagers, especially me, rate girls, guys, or both. For example, when a girl comes through the Starbucks door, I rate the girl. I criticize how she looks and what kind of style she wears. I, especially, describe her facial features and body features. Girls criticize other girls because of self-esteem issues or for satisfaction. Sammy, for instance, is not criticizing the girls because he has self-esteem issues or for satisfaction, but he is rating the girls because he is attracted to the girls. Any guy would be attracted to a girl if she appeared in a supermarket wearing a