The World in Sammy's Eyes
John Updike's short story "A & P" is about an event that happens in a small-town grocery store. In this story Updike introduces the character of Sammy to the reader by using the first person point of view that helps to describe Sammy's inner reality. The reader feels that Sammy is arrogant, and naive, yet still manages to evoke the feelings of regret, sorrow and perhaps even pity from the reader. The character of Sammy appears to be motivated by his attraction to the opposite sex.Updike's use of first person narrative throughout the story helps develop the character of Sammy. The reader is able to get an understanding of exactly what Sammy is thinking and feeling.
The reader that detests the character of Sammy might feel pity for him, but that reader ultimately feels that Sammy gets what he deserves for being so ignorant. It is an event that teaches the reader an important lesson, a lesson that Sammy had to learn the hard way. This is where Sammy gets himself into trouble, by not thinking about the outcome of his deeds. The lesson is that for the most part it is better to think through to the consequences of actions, before those actions are executed, particularly when dealing with the influence of the opposite sex. It does not matter that his actions do not make him a hero, because his actions are not noticed by those whom he is trying to impress. Through the characterization of Sammy John Updike creates a believable event. The reader that admires the character of Sammy feels regret and sorrow over the consequences of Sammy's actions. Lengel, appears to be his attraction to the girls, or mainly to the one he nicknames Queenie. To the reader Sammy appears to be arrogant, because he sees himself as the hero for sticking up for the girls. That reader might view the world as cruel and wicked for treating Sammy to such a terrible fate. This describes Sammy's inner reality of how he views the world around him. Sammy's views are shallow and conceited, therefore he thinks mostly about himself, and has little respect for others. The reader can identify this motivation by the fact that Sammy hopes the girls will notice his actions, and by the fact that he looks around for the girls after he leaves the store. Sammy's only motivation for doing what he does, and taking the girls' side in their conflict with Mr.
Common topics in this essay:
John Updike's,
John Updike,
character sammy,
feels sammy,
character sammy reader,
inner reality,
sammy's inner reality,
consequences actions,
sammy appears,
sammy's inner,
regret sorrow,
opposite sex,
sammy reader,
pity reader,
|
Acceptance Essays
