John Updike's A&P
John Updike's "A&P" features a few moments in the life of a young man who works at a grocery store. He becomes enamored of three girls who walk into the store dressed in bathing suits. The protagonist Sammy, finds that his choices lead to sometimes disappointing consequences as he is faced with having to explain awkward circumstances to his parents. Updike develops this coming of age story using details as part of the exposition, rising action, crisis, climax, falling action, and resolution. The exposition begins in the first paragraph as the three girls walk into the store. Sammy is at his register checking out other customers when he notices the girls. "In walks three girls in nothing but bathing suits. I'm in the third checkout, with my back to the door, so I don't see them until they're over by the bread"(Updike 12). Updike provides details about Sammy's interaction with the girls. These details humanize Sammy. The reader can readily identify with a youngster whose attention is diverted at work. "The story opens abruptly-'In walks these three girls'-and maintains that vernacular, conversational, ungrammatical voice throughout its 250 lines"(Peck 3). The exposition occurs in the first few sentences and sets up a serie
"The irony of Sammy's heroism reflects Updike's conviction, obvious in many of his works, that the heroic gesture is often meaningless and usually arises from selfish rather than unselfish impulses"(Uphaus 372). The rising action begins in the first paragraph as Sammy rings up a box of Hi Ho Crackersincorrectly. Perhaps the most appropriate meaning of the story is expressed by Leon Lewis. "Lengel, a Sunday school teacher, is affronted by the indignity of the girls shopping in his store in such attire"(Uphaus 372). Acknowledging that now 'he felt how hard the world was going to be on me hereafter,' his acceptance of the struggle is at the root of his ability to face challenges in the future"(Lewis 2378). "'A & P' is primarily a story of initiation, as a young boy moves from innocence (and ignorance) to experience (and knowledge)"(Peck 2). This is an obvious indication that Sammy has a similar attitude to that of Lengel's on the store's dress code. Which debases his heroism even more. Sammy observes Lengel taking his place in the checkout lane. Sammy feels compelled to deliver a declaration of passionate defense of their innocence"(Lewis 2378).
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Acceptance Essays
