Sammy's Motives

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In "A&P" by John Updike, the story contains lessons of life and adulthood. Three girls walk into the grocery store, A&P, wearing bathing suits. Sammy works at the cash register and they spark an interest in him. Sammy's boss, Lengel confronts the girls rudely, and tells them they cannot come back dressed like that again. In "A&P," the protagonist Sammy demonstrates how bravery often means not conforming to social ideology. So what are Sammy's ulterior motives? The girls make their impression upon Sammy. He quickly takes notice of the three girls as they come in wearing bath suits (Updike 56). Sammy looks at each of them, examining them from head to toe. He focuses on the lead girl and thinks to himself saying, "She held her head so high her …show more content…

Queenie and the other two girls, are ready to check out. Sammy and Stokes work the registers (Updike 58). Stokes has someone already at his, so the girls choose Sammy's lane (Updike 58). Sammy in awe of Queenie, thinks to himself, "Still with that prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill out of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top. The jar went heavy in my hand. Really, I thought that was so cute" (58). Sammy is baffled by Queenie. He desires to make an impression on her. However, Queenie leaves Sammy speechless. Before he is able to say a word to Queenie, Lengel notices the girl's attire and rushes to the register. Now he is forced to take …show more content…

Queenie and her friends are outraged, and they give Lengel attitude right back as they defend themselves. The girls are eager to leave the store, and Sammy realizes this is his chance to be their hero, so he decides to quit. Lengel asks, "Did you say something, Sammy?" Sammy replies, "I said I quit." Lengel responds, "I thought you did." Sammy stands up to his boss, "You didn't have to embarrass them" (60). This is how Sammy uses his bravery and courage to stand against Lengel's rude behavior and not conform to social ideology. His ulterior motives were to leave a good impression on the girls and defend them, but they had already fled the parking

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