A&P: Sammy
A&P is a comic short story by author John Updike, set in first person narration by a sales clerk at an A&P store named Sammy. Sammy notices three girls walk into his store in only their swimsuits, which is a fearless act to be made in the time that the story was set. The head of the pack, “Queenie”, leads the other two girls through the aisles, and her confidence doubles the sum of her friends’. She seems to be guiding them through a life lesson, teaching them to keep their heads high, reminding them of the power that their sexuality has. Sammy notices minute details about each of the girls, taking in their tan lines and the seams of their swimsuits. He is particularly interested in Queenie, nearly obsessive over her overflowing self-confidence and straight stare down the aisles. He notes her boldness, her absolute …show more content…
He is taken by Queenie’s defiance, assessing himself and his own life as he tracks her every move throughout the store. His comparison towards his married coworker, Stokesie, indicates that though they share many similarities, Sammy feels that his own future is brighter and more ambiguous. He is single, slightly younger, and much more curious about the world outside of A&P. This theme of rebellion is seen quite early in the story, and maintains a steady pace. Conformity has been a major topic of discussion for many years, especially in young people and women. Their daring attitudes almost cause others to sting with jealousy and disgust, as older folks look them up and down and reminisce about the good old days, when men didn’t have to fear for their sexual impulses inside of a grocery store. As long as the shoulders are covered, the men are protected, as are their families. Given that the story was set prior to the 1990’s, the ladies’ shocking display of insubordination attracts an intense amount of
A&P is a comic short story by author John Updike, set in first person narration by a sales clerk at an A&P store named Sammy. Sammy notices three girls walk into his store in only their swimsuits, which is a fearless act to be made in the time that the story was set. The head of the pack, “Queenie”, leads the other two girls through the aisles, and her confidence doubles the sum of her friends’. She seems to be guiding them through a life lesson, teaching them to keep their heads high, reminding them of the power that their sexuality has. Sammy notices minute details about each of the girls, taking in their tan lines and the seams of their swimsuits. He is particularly interested in Queenie, nearly obsessive over her overflowing self-confidence and straight stare down the aisles. He notes her boldness, her absolute …show more content…
He is taken by Queenie’s defiance, assessing himself and his own life as he tracks her every move throughout the store. His comparison towards his married coworker, Stokesie, indicates that though they share many similarities, Sammy feels that his own future is brighter and more ambiguous. He is single, slightly younger, and much more curious about the world outside of A&P. This theme of rebellion is seen quite early in the story, and maintains a steady pace. Conformity has been a major topic of discussion for many years, especially in young people and women. Their daring attitudes almost cause others to sting with jealousy and disgust, as older folks look them up and down and reminisce about the good old days, when men didn’t have to fear for their sexual impulses inside of a grocery store. As long as the shoulders are covered, the men are protected, as are their families. Given that the story was set prior to the 1990’s, the ladies’ shocking display of insubordination attracts an intense amount of