A & P by John Updike

. . .
The girls are near his age unlike the other customers in the store so Sammy feels a connection without ever actually talking to them. “… and they all three went up the cat-and-dog-food-breakfast-cereal-macaroni-rice-raisins-seasonings-spreads-spaghetti-soft-drinks-crackers-and-cookies aisle (Updike 16).

The narrator of the story, Sammy, quits his job to make a statement to himself and to the authority like figures around him. Sammy quits his job to defend the girls that the manager had just yelled at and tries to get them to notice. Poor kids, I began to feel sorry for them, they couldn’t help it” (Updike 17). Sammy uses humor to show how routine the A&P has become for him working in the store. Another quote that represents foreshadowing is, “…The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle-the girls were walking against the usual traffic (not that we have one-way signs or anything- were pretty hilarious” (Updike 17). The final place where Sammy shows the most compassion for his new friends is, “…so I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero”(Updike 19). The sheep is a name that Sammy has come up with for all the customers that herd together through the store.

Sammy is yearning for freedom from his dull job, the manager and the demanding customers. Life is about being true to yourself and doing what you think is right even though there may be consequences afterwards. From past experience with other people he creates personalities for the different girls just from their outward appearance and actions. Sammy dislikes his job, his manager, and everything that goes on in the A&P except the girls that came into the store the day he quits. He thinks it is hilarious how the customers act like sheep running through the store day after day.

Common topics in this essay:
John Updike, Sammy A&P, A&P Sammy, Updike Sammys, quit job, MANAGER Updike, Authority A&P, sammy dislikes job, sammy quit job, short story, sammy dislikes, store day, updike 16, sammy quit, updike 17, grocery store, story sammy, dislikes job, A&P John, updike 16 sammy, a&p john updike, sammy quits job,

Approximate Word count = 1248
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Already a member? Click here