Analysis Of A & P By John Updike

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“A&P” is a popular coming of age short story written by John Updike. The story follows the narrator/protagonist Sammy; who works at a local A&P. While working three girls in bathing suits enter the store; Sammy doesn’t know it yet, but this interlude in his life will have a great impact on his life and even him as a person. From the extensively long monologue Sammy has within his head we get a very vivid or rather picturesque description of the three young women. Even as these women go furtively in and out of different aisles Sammy’s watchful eye rarely misses them which could be called by some a little obsessive. He begins to form educated guesses on how their lives must be like and what they must be like when in their natural habitat. Updike …show more content…

It seems to be debated quite often interestingly enough. Many seem to have their own beliefs as to what exactly Sammy gains from his actions in the story (Explanation of: “A & P”). Sammy quits his job hoping that the girls see him and acknowledge that it was done on their behalf, but is unaware that girls make haste before he even finishes his exchange with his manager. He quits for no real reason except to impress women he may never see again; leaving him with uncertainty. I believe that what he did was chivalrous in a way, but it failed in the long run. Not only does he not have the women, but he also has no job so in the end it was “quixotically …show more content…

I feel I can relate with Sammy in an abundance of ways being a male that is also 19 years of age I to observe the opposite sex (of course in a respectable manner) and I to may do things to either impress them or gain their attention. And I to have a job with bosses that constantly ridicule others so I understand wanting to quit as well. I also believe that at some point everyone has experienced the unknown. Our stories may not be the exact same, but I think many will be able to relate with Sammy in their own ways. That concludes this paper I am extremely tired and may be figuratively or literally dying of thirst at the moment. I do want to end this by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed “A&P” and that out of all the stories we’ve read this semester “A&P” is my favorite by far. The story incorporates in the reader in such an organic way that you start to believe you are one with Sammy. John Updike does an amazing job of exploring the mind of an adolescent male and describing everything in the process. I can continue, but as I stated earlier I’m tired so I bid you

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