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Analyzing a&p by john updike
Analyzing a&p by john updike
Essays about feminism in literature
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The short story, A&P written by American novelist John Updike, presents many themes throughout, however the idea of a feminist lens as well as the power of desire are two recurring topics that are well displayed in this short period piece. The author, John Updike uses a variety of literary elements to convey and explore the concepts of the objectification of women in the early 60’s along with the power of desire and pleasure. These concepts are presented by the author in an attempt to understand the possible consequences of one’s choices and actions. The main protagonist, Sammy, created by Updike, is portrayed as a casually polite yet poetic and witty nineteen year old who however lacks a certain degree of maturity and respect as he is
quickly infatuated with Queenie and begins to sexualize her and her two minions. During the story, Sammy narrates from his point of view and follows and studies Queenie and her followers’ every move as they navigate their way barefoot through the store in their symbolic bathing suits. He begins with giving the three girls nicknames and rating their overall physical appearance, pointing out their facial features, body shape and clothing only to later refer to them as “[his] girls.”
In his short story "A & P" John Updike utilizes a 19-year-old adolescent to show us how a boy gets one step closer to adulthood. Sammy, an A & P checkout clerk, talks to the reader with blunt first person observations setting the tone of the story from the outset. The setting of the story shows us Sammy's position in life and where he really wants to be. Through the characterization of Sammy, Updike employs a simple heroic gesture to teach us that actions have consequences and we are responsible for our own actions.
Sammy, the protagonist in John Updike’s “A&P,” is a dynamic character because he reveals himself as an immature, teenage boy at the beginning of the story and changes into a mature man at the end. The way Sammy describes his place of work, the customers in the store, and his ultimate choice in the end, prove his change from an immature boy to a chivalrous man. In the beginning, he is unhappy in his place of work, rude in his description of the customers and objectification of the three girls, all of which prove his immaturity. His heroic lifestyle change in the end shows how his change of heart and attitude transform him into mature young man.
In the short story “A&P” by John Updike, a young store clerk named Sammy observes three young girls walking into the store, and in great detail describes the appearance of each girl. He obsesses over these girl’s every move throughout the story. Eventually the girls go to cash out only to be halted by the manager who tells them they need to be “decently dressed” when shopping at his store. After Sammy rings the three girls up he tells the manager he quits in order to impress the girls. Unfortunately they don’t notice and when he leaves the store he realizes the girls are gone, and that he has made mistake. The author paints the protagonist as an individual who despises his job, and as a very cynical person who loathes the average customer at
John Updike depicts Sammy’s character as a typical young boy who thinks he is invisible to the idea that consequences apply to him. However, Sammy is granted the harsh actuality that he will no longer be given slaps on the wrist for radical decisions. His coworker Stokesie is twenty-two, married and has two children. Generally speaking, Sammy may still have childish actions but he understands that he does not want to work at the A&P the rest of his life. When he is stricken by the proposition to stand up for the girls as Lengel confronts them about their attire, his entire world
Interpretation of A & P This story takes place in 1961, in a small New England town's A&P grocery store. Sammy, the narrator, is introduced as a grocery checker and an observer of the store's patrons. He finds himself fascinated by a particular group of girls. Just in from the beach and still in their bathing suits, they are a stark contrast, to the otherwise plain store interior.
Within every story or poem, there is always an interpretation made by the reader, whether right or wrong. In doing so, one must thoughtfully analyze all aspects of the story in order to make the most accurate assessment based on the literary elements the author has used. Compared and contrasted within the two short stories, “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid, and John Updike’s “A&P,” the literary elements character and theme are made evident. These two elements are prominent in each of the differing stories yet similarities are found through each by studying the elements. The girls’ innocence and naivety as characters act as passages to show something superior, oppression in society shown towards women that is not equally shown towards men.
Two Works Cited John Updike’s story, "A&P," starts off: "In walks three girls in nothing but bathing suits," and that pretty much sums it all up (Updike 1026). In the story, not only are the girls in bathing suits looked upon as sex objects, but other women are negatively viewed as witches, farm animals, or slaves. This story is about how a young man in the early 1960’s viewed women as a whole, including his own mother.
Going against the norm almost always brings trouble. Much more so when the norms relate to gender in our society. From our formative years straight up to adulthood, society upholds certain distinct expectations of behaviors both male and females. Young men and woman are thus expected to follow and fit into these gender roles that are meant to guide and govern their behavior. The theme of gender and gender roles can be examined in the short story, “A & P”, written by John Updike. Through examination it can be seen that various characters go against the expected gender roles of that time period. Specifically the main character and narrator of Sammy. It is through the analysis of Sammy’s behavior that we discover what happens when you go against
Lust makes people do crazy things. John Updike’s short story “A&P” provides a perfect example of how lust made a boy quit his job. In this short story, a boy, named Sammy, catches a glimpse of three under-dressed, attractive girls as they enter his workplace. The manager asks the three girls to leave. As a result, Sammy is outraged by the mistreatment of the girls and quits his job in protest. Sammy’s stand against the mistreatment of the girls makes him feel like a hero. Updike’s use of descriptive words and dramatic irony in “A&P” leads the reader to believe that Sammy’s heroic acts were not actions with rebellious intentions, but actions due to his lust for the three under-dressed girls.
John Updike has a clever mind when it comes to writing famously notorious short stories. Simply, his stories are basic, but with a life lesson comes the purpose of the story. Frankly, he leaves the reader leaves the reader in a state of confusion. In two of his stories, a&p and the brown chest, the author relates ordinary occurrences to a greater meaning of life. A&P tells a story of a young man trying to find himself. In this coming-of age story, Sammy, a cashier, notices when three girls come in to the store in bikini’s. When the manager, Mr. Lengel sees the girls, he questions them asking why the girls are not in dress code. Sammy likes the third girl, Queenie, the one that led the other two. The young man gets frustrated and spouts out at lengel. The girls walk out, Sammy hopes that the girls will hear him and come back. Even though the girls did not return, Sammy gives up his minimum wage job and walks out. In the back of his mind, he realizes that his parents will not be satisfied with this decision, but he risks it all anyway. The other short story, the Brown chest, is about a young boy who finds a chest filled with items from his ancestors, such as a wedding dress or several strands of some auburn curls. As the boy grows up, he continues to hate the chest. With time progressing, the brown chest moves away farther and farther. The items remain, forever more. John Updike shows several similarities in his writings while keeping it fresh for readers with making changes. These two stories, A&P and The Brown Chest , Updike makes imagery and produces frequent symbolismto convey an important message.
Many times in our lives, we wish we were independent and we believe we can stand up for ourselves, especially during our adolescence. In “A &P”, a short story by John Updike, the protagonist, Sammy, decides to stand up for himself and go against the customary life style of his town. By doing this such act, he reveals the themes of the story, which include maturity and choices followed by consequences. Updike uses literary devices such as symbolism and tone to help enforce the theme. There are two major themes in Updike’s “A & P;” one being choices and its consequences and the other being maturity.
John Updike, one of the most forward-thinking and socially provocative writers of the 50s and 60s, is known for his “incisive presentation of the quandaries of contemporary personal and social life.” (Lawn 529) Updike graduated from Harvard University and wrote for one of the more cutting edge publications like The New Yorker- both are notoriously ahead of their time and harbor controversial ideas. In his short story “A&P”, Updike reveals a young man named Sammy in a society on the brink of a social revolution- one in which a group of girls and an innocent cashier will unknowingly lead. Updike, through symbolism and syntax, shows how the girls are leading the revolution, how Sammy is feeling the wrath of this revolution, and which part each of the characters represent.
“In walks these three girls in nothing but bathing suits (Updike 430).” The opening of the short story written by John Updike, called ‘A&P’, immediately creates a sense of bewilderment. The setting the author uses as the backdrop is very essential to the story and helps with understanding the main character’s decision to eventually quit his job at the end. The protagonist and main character is Sammy, an employee of the A&P. Sammy not only walks away from his job, but he also chooses to leave the A&P and what the store represents in the story. John Updike’s ‘A&P’ uses the setting of the story to create a feeling of being restricted.
Sammy is a teen in his 19 years of age. He works in a market called A&P where he is believes is a boring job. At this age young boys want to have fun. Although his parents are the ones who help him get the job. That job as he describes is for someone older like Lengel and Stokesie. Sammy wants to his live to fullest like the girls in the bathing suits. By casual diction we can tell his age and the maturity he has within. Sammy is a person who will go through quiting to life a lifestyle he wants. We can say he is a dreamer who will fight for what he believes in. Intelligent because he realizes quiting will have its
John Updike’s A&P gives us an idea that the world isn’t always black and white by telling a story about a teenager who does what he believes in and quits his job because of a disagreement with his boss and to get the attention of a girl. The kid doesn’t get the girl and has to deal with the consequences of his actions but through it all he sticks to his decisions. Following the standard through life in any aspect can seem pretty easy at times, but seeing the grey, choosing to act and becoming resilient through it all displays what kind of character you are.