Analysis Of John Updike's A & P

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John Updike writes the short story, “A&P” about the protagonist, Sammy. Three girls walked into the store he worked at, A&P, half dressed. Sammy watched every move and every aisle the girls walked down. When his boss, Lengal, noticed what the girls were wearing and confronted them, Sammy gained his motivation to stand up for the girls. Sammy realized it was a mistake when he quit his job. Sammy had motivation to go against his boss, Lengal’s word and he wanted to impress the three girls in the store. Sammy’s motivation to stand up for the three girls in the their bathing suits happened when Lengal, his boss, confronted the girls with his conservative thoughts. Sammy gained his motivation once Lengal told the girls, “We want you decently dressed when you come here.” (Updike 465). Neither Sammy nor the three girls saw anything wrong with the clothing they decided to wear. Lengal embarrassed the three girls and did not want them dressed as if they were going to the beach. Sammy felt sorry for the girls and decided to take a stand against his boss. …show more content…

Sammy shouted, “…I quit to Lengal quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero” (466). Sammy found the courage to tell Lengal he quit. Sammy thought that by quitting his job for the girls would impress at least one of them, but his plan failed. Sammy immediately knew he had made a terrible mistake. Updike states, “His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he’s just had an injection of iron, and my stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (467). Sammy automatically knew that it was going to be hard to find another job and able to find such a boss as Lengal, for his parents were able to get him the job at

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