The Rigid Social Norm Analysis

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Youthful Rebellion for a Change in The Rigid Social Norm The definition of decency varies through generations, as the desire of a teenager to be different from his or her parents not only with the way they live but also their perspective of life. That is what John Updike, author of the well-known short story “A&P”, trying to give through his writings. The character of Sammy and the girls who were living during the 1960s, represents the inner youthful rebellion towards the rigid social system during those times. Through a first-person narrative, John Updike manages to decipher Sammy’s rebellious and opinionated character and, Queenie's boldness by making them challenge the literal paradigm of a decent behavior during the 1960s, with their teenage …show more content…

As if to forsake his one and only source of income besides from his parents, Sammy quits from being a cashier at the A&P even though Lengel reminded him that his parents would not be so happy about his actions. Updike’s writing style makes it easier for readers to imagine the actual situation happening in front of them, like while Sammy was taking off his apron, in his mind he still had the time to notice the customers heading to his slot “begins to knock against each other, like scared pigs in a chute” (Updike 380). The way he is describing them shows that he has ego that he wants to protect by talking bad about the innocent customers. But right after he stepped out of the A&P, he tried to look for Queenie and the girls but they had already gone just as he had expected. Which makes him realizes the bumpy road ahead of him because of this hasty act. Possibly Updike tried to symbolize the actual situation that may happen to an actual teenager who is stuck between his or her desire to taste the freedom of adulthood, but tried to be oblivious towards the responsibility that comes with …show more content…

Lengel’s character manage to awaken the innocent side of Queenie when she is admonished by him for not dressing properly. Queenie flinched and Sammy realizes the slight blush on her face, when she is confronted by Lengel and that is when her innocence of a normal teenage girl can be observed. She tried to defend herself by saying that she is only running an errand for her mother, showing that she is still an innocent damsel in distress who is still living with her parents. Having the same rebellious character as Sammy made her wanting to try something new. Other than her two girlfriends, Sammy was also inspired by her to try something out of the norm. Queenie had made his mere desire of being a hero for the girls to wanting to quit his job at the

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