How Does John Updike Use Motivation In A & P

The short story “A&P” by John Updike utilizes motivation in a unique way to drive the story forward and affect other elements of the story. The protagonist is a teenager working a cashier job in a supermarket during the summer, in a place where you wouldn’t expect to see people walking around in provocative outfits. The literary devices of the story are affected by the protagonist’s motivation, and the motivation also makes him a very believable character (thanks to a variety of factors that we’re able to glean about the protagonist).

When it comes to the girls in the story, the reader can understand why the protagonist’s attention is drawn to them even without his motivation. The girls are miles away from where it would be appropriate to be wearing such swimwear and walk into the store without a second thought (as it appears to the reader). It’s not difficult to ascertain that while it’s not illegal or enough for normal customers to comment on, it’s far enough out of line for the (noted to be strict) manager to comment on. …show more content…
If the reader can imagine (or reminisce back to the time) working a summer job and being between rushed or bored out of their mind, the reader can also understand how a group of particularly attractive people of the opposite sex around their own age entering the store during a lull would fascinate the protagonist. Especially if these people entered in rather provocative outfits that show off more than is normally reasonable for the