Literary Devices In John Updike's A & P

John Updike begins his story, “A&P,” talking about the main character Sammy. Sammy, the narrator of the story, is a 19-year-old cashier in a local grocery store, A&P. He develops a certain interest in a group of girls who have entered the grocery story. The group of girls had just come from the beach and entered the store in their bathing suits. As the girls start shopping, Sammy notices the responses of the other customers in the store. Sammy watches their every move right until they start checking out. At that time, the manager of the store confronts the girls and rebukes the girls for their inappropriate appearance. The manager finds their choice of clothing to be offensive. Sammy, feeling that the manager’s actions were redundant and truly embarrassing for the girls, chooses to quit his job at the grocery store. Though he knows his decision may be impetuous, he must follow through and never return. Hoping for valuation from the girls, he follows them outside the store only to find that the group of girls are heedless of his previous action. The climax of the story is when Sammy realizes his fervent act has left him without a job. The central idea in the story is that impulsive actions can lead to appalling …show more content…
Symbolism is used in the line: “The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle” (Updike). To Sammy, the “sheep” are the those who “just follow the flock.” Symbolism is also used in the line: “The whole store was like a pinball machine and I didn't know which tunnel they'd come out of” (Updike). Imagery is used when describing the girl’s bathing suits: “She had on a kind of dirty-pink… bathing suit with a little nubble all over it” (Updike). Metaphor is used in the line: “Shook open a paper bag as gently as peeling a peach” (Updike). These language devices relate to the central idea because it helps the author give us an example of the consequences that came out of an impulsive