Character Analysis of Sammy A&P
In the story A&P by John Updike, the narrator Sammy who is a young eighteen-year-old male works at a local grocery store named A&P. While working, Sammy notices three young ladies wearing two-piece bathing suits enter the store. Sammy who is very observant watches the young ladies and describes in full detail the ladies’ appearances. An occurrence that takes place between the three young ladies and the store manager has Sammy questioning what kind of life he wants to pursue. This story is considered a coming of age for Sammy.
In the beginning of the story A&P, Sammy’s character uses his very detailed thoughts to describe every customer he meets. His character engages with three young ladies who come into the store dressed “in nothing but bathing suits.” Sammy goes into a tangent on each girl’s physical features and how each bathing suit fits each girl’s body. One of the three girls, who he nicknames Queenie, spark Sammy’s interest. Sammy describes the ladies as having a high social status and starts comparing their lifestyle to his. Sammy’s boss Lengel, who he describes as a grouch, notices the girls dressed in their two-piece swimsuits and decides to confront Queenie and her friends to dress decently the next time they come in. This story is set around the 1950’s era when …show more content…
Sammy wanted to be a hero for sacrificing his job for the girls. He could have easily changed his mind when Lengel told him “You’ll feel this for the rest of your life.” Sammy motivation to quit his job was set off by not wanting to end up like Lengel if he continued to work at the A&P and wanting a better life for himself. Sammy actions were to prove that he was different from the others working at A&P and he was full aware of the consequences that would
In the story A&P by John Updike, the narrator Sammy who is a young eighteen-year-old male works at a local grocery store named A&P. While working, Sammy notices three young ladies wearing two-piece bathing suits enter the store. Sammy who is very observant watches the young ladies and describes in full detail the ladies’ appearances. An occurrence that takes place between the three young ladies and the store manager has Sammy questioning what kind of life he wants to pursue. This story is considered a coming of age for Sammy.
In the beginning of the story A&P, Sammy’s character uses his very detailed thoughts to describe every customer he meets. His character engages with three young ladies who come into the store dressed “in nothing but bathing suits.” Sammy goes into a tangent on each girl’s physical features and how each bathing suit fits each girl’s body. One of the three girls, who he nicknames Queenie, spark Sammy’s interest. Sammy describes the ladies as having a high social status and starts comparing their lifestyle to his. Sammy’s boss Lengel, who he describes as a grouch, notices the girls dressed in their two-piece swimsuits and decides to confront Queenie and her friends to dress decently the next time they come in. This story is set around the 1950’s era when …show more content…
Sammy wanted to be a hero for sacrificing his job for the girls. He could have easily changed his mind when Lengel told him “You’ll feel this for the rest of your life.” Sammy motivation to quit his job was set off by not wanting to end up like Lengel if he continued to work at the A&P and wanting a better life for himself. Sammy actions were to prove that he was different from the others working at A&P and he was full aware of the consequences that would