A & P By John Updike Analysis
Full Text (797 words)
Copyright HELDREF PUBLICATIONS Summer 2001
John Updike 's most anthologized short story, " > A & P," chronicles the protagonist 's seemingly impulsive decision to quit his job at the local supermarket. On the basis of Sammy 's forceful stand against his boss Mr. Lenge who nearly kicks three girls out of the > A & P for failing to comply with the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" rule, the established critical stance has placed Sammy in the position of "hero" (Saldivar 215-16). Although classify
Sammy as a hero is understandable, since he views himself as one (Updike 195), critics have failed to adequately consider the fact that he is also the narrator through whose limited point of view the story is told. Thus, he reveals …show more content…
In "John Updike 's ' > A & P ': A Return Visit to Araby," Walter Wells correctly recognizes that Sammy is frustrated. But the source of Sammy 's frustration eludes Wells; he attributes it to Sammy 's "infatuation with a beaut but inaccessible girl" (128). The text suggests, however, that Sammy is not frustrated because he cannot woo Queen but because of the length of time he has been working at the supermarket and his daily encounters with customers.
Sammy wishes to quit, but he resists doing so because his parents would regard his decision as "the sad part of the story" (192). Sammy must, therefore, remain an employee until he can find a reason to justify his quitting. Though masking his actions as chivalry, Sammy uses the girls; for they act as catalysts that precipitate his well-considered decision to resign.
Sammy observes the girls walking "up the
Copyright HELDREF PUBLICATIONS Summer 2001
John Updike 's most anthologized short story, " > A & P," chronicles the protagonist 's seemingly impulsive decision to quit his job at the local supermarket. On the basis of Sammy 's forceful stand against his boss Mr. Lenge who nearly kicks three girls out of the > A & P for failing to comply with the "no shirt, no shoes, no service" rule, the established critical stance has placed Sammy in the position of "hero" (Saldivar 215-16). Although classify
Sammy as a hero is understandable, since he views himself as one (Updike 195), critics have failed to adequately consider the fact that he is also the narrator through whose limited point of view the story is told. Thus, he reveals …show more content…
In "John Updike 's ' > A & P ': A Return Visit to Araby," Walter Wells correctly recognizes that Sammy is frustrated. But the source of Sammy 's frustration eludes Wells; he attributes it to Sammy 's "infatuation with a beaut but inaccessible girl" (128). The text suggests, however, that Sammy is not frustrated because he cannot woo Queen but because of the length of time he has been working at the supermarket and his daily encounters with customers.
Sammy wishes to quit, but he resists doing so because his parents would regard his decision as "the sad part of the story" (192). Sammy must, therefore, remain an employee until he can find a reason to justify his quitting. Though masking his actions as chivalry, Sammy uses the girls; for they act as catalysts that precipitate his well-considered decision to resign.
Sammy observes the girls walking "up the