Theme Of A & P By John Updike

In “A&P” by John Updike we have the theme of desire, change, conformity, rebellion, liberation and consumerism. Taken from his “The Early Stories” collection the story is narrated in the first person by a young nineteen year old boy named Sammy. After reading the story, the reader realises that Updike may be exploring the theme of desire. Though it is obvious that Sammy is physically attracted to Queenie as the story continues the reader also senses that Sammy wants to live his life as he thinks Queenie may be living hers. While Queenie is at the check-out Sammy imagines what parties at Queenie’s house may be like. Unlike the parties his own parents have and which Sammy considers to be boring, he imagines parties at Queenie’s home to be more

exciting. This may be important as it is possible that Updike is suggesting or highlighting to the reader the desire that Sammy has to live a life beyond what he already knows (and which he does not accept). There is a sense that Sammy wishes to change his life.

It may also be important that Sammy’s perception of Queenie and how she lives her life is based on two observations that Sammy makes. He believes that Queenie, by walking around the store in her bathing suit, is living her life as she chooses (as an individual rather than conforming to societal norms) and that by purchasing some Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks Queenie must be upper-middle class unlike Sammy who is working class.Sammy also appears to objectify Queenie and often compares her (or parts of her body) to commodities. This is noticeable when Sammy compares Queenie’s chest to a ‘dented sheet of metal tilted in the light.’ Also while Queenie is at the checkout paying for the Herring Snacks Sammy again compares Queenie’s chest to ‘the two smoothest scoops of vanilla I had ever known were there.’ Though both of these incidents may highlight that Sammy is viewing Queenie as a product or commodity (that he could buy in the store) it is also possible that Updike is suggesting that Sammy lacks the maturity to view Queenie as a person rather than as a commodity, he is after all still only nineteen. Some critics also suggest that by quitting his job not only has Sammy acted impulsively but again he is showing a lack of

maturity. Though by quitting his job it is also possible that Sammy is displaying a sense of individuality, which mirrors the individuality that he believes Queenie and her friends are showing by walking around the store in their bathing suits.

This theme presents an interesting counterpoint to the theme of religion in "Good Country People." For Mrs.

Hopewell, existence rests in having, as her name suggests, a hopeful outlook on life. Hulga, however, with her doctoral degree in philosophy, sees life as a meaningless illusion. And though Manley is on a similar existential journey, Hulga can't see past his country boy exterior long enough to really listen to him. The story seriously questions the nature of life, while at the same time poking fun at oh-so-serious philosophical discourses."Good Country People" looks at views, is in a state of identity crisis due in large part to her health issues and her general superiority the ways the characters identify themselves and others. Mrs. Hopewell sees her employees as either "good country people" or "trash" (3), and herself as above both of them. Her identity remains relatively fixed throughout this darkly funny tale. By contrast, Hulga, who shares some of her complex. In the case of both mother and daughter, the labels they throw around blind them to the people they come in contact with. This is never really challenged for Mrs. Hopewell, but when Bible salesman Manley Pointer enters their world, Hulga learns that there is more to good country people than she ever thought before, and as a result, her own identity is fiercely challenged. "Good Country People" doesn't exactly seem suffused with love. The characters have incredibly tough exteriors and seem bent on

annihilating rather than loving each other. Yet, we would argue that a deep love drives the story—O'Connor is just the kind of writer who expresses her love for the world by showing its dark side. Manley and Hulga are both, on some level, reaching out to the possibility of love. Unfortunately, what might have been genuine connection takes a seriously sour turn. But hey: Just because love's a theme doesn't mean anyone in the story has to be good at it. "Good Country People" looks at class and social divisions in the southern United States in the 1950s (or thereabouts). Mrs. Hopewell is a wealthy landowner who sees her employees as beneath her because of their lower economic class, and she further divides working class folks into the categories of "trash" and "good country people." It isn't quite clear what the criteria are for membership in either of these classes, though. Hulga, her daughter and the protagonist of the story, looks down on the same people her mother does, but her disdain is focused on their lack of education, and what she perceives as their lack of intelligence. Bible salesman Manley's vengeful act challenges Hulga's views, though as far as we know, Mrs. Hopewell's remain stable.