Sammy, a 19-year-old boy, serves as a protagonist character in the A&P short Story. He initially works as a cashier in a small-town supermarket. The A&P story happens in a small community that carries a profound conservative opinion (Wheeler, 2011). At the start of the story, three young ladies walk into the store putting on bathing suits. The way how the girls go about dressing themselves makes people especially Sammy look upon them strangely, which reveals the rift within the young and the old generations. The character Sammy could be described in a variety of ways. Despite that, Sammy is very observant of his surrounding and an opinionated person. Regardless, right from the beginning of the story, Sammy is viewed to be an immature person
…show more content…
In the A&P story, Updike illustrates how Sammy gives an opinion of every girl who comes to the store after a keen observation. The language formulates him as being juvenile and who is focused on his prejudice. For instance, the lust Sammy frankly shows having to the girls blends him as immature. His immaturity is also seen when he refers to housewives as “house slaves” and people as “sheep.” In his language and style, Updike wanted the readers to see the magic and beauty in everyday experiences through making Sammy describe every aspect of the day in his distinctive …show more content…
He notes the difference between him and Queenie. Queenie helps him visualize the social changes of civilization amongst others opinion on dressing and interaction through comparison with the others in his society. Nevertheless, Sammy gains maturity when he comes to terms with the fallacies through the approach he took when he interacted with the ladies. Besides, this gave him an understanding that his actions were insensible and reckless. Despite that, Sammy recounts on his actions later through the story when he differentiates the right and the wrong and regretting his previous deeds. In the A&P story, John Updike shows how Sammy is confined to his old deeds and resists the social changes. For example, the principal purpose of leaving his job was due to his rebellious act against the conformity of the social regulations and rules that surrounded him. Additionally, Sammy’s peak of maturity is revealed when he eventually conforms to the societal regulations as he becomes civilized and ceases the judgments he has on others modes of dressing and living. He, thus, tells himself that resistance is an effortless journey and he should
In the A&P story, Updike illustrates how Sammy gives an opinion of every girl who comes to the store after a keen observation. The language formulates him as being juvenile and who is focused on his prejudice. For instance, the lust Sammy frankly shows having to the girls blends him as immature. His immaturity is also seen when he refers to housewives as “house slaves” and people as “sheep.” In his language and style, Updike wanted the readers to see the magic and beauty in everyday experiences through making Sammy describe every aspect of the day in his distinctive …show more content…
He notes the difference between him and Queenie. Queenie helps him visualize the social changes of civilization amongst others opinion on dressing and interaction through comparison with the others in his society. Nevertheless, Sammy gains maturity when he comes to terms with the fallacies through the approach he took when he interacted with the ladies. Besides, this gave him an understanding that his actions were insensible and reckless. Despite that, Sammy recounts on his actions later through the story when he differentiates the right and the wrong and regretting his previous deeds. In the A&P story, John Updike shows how Sammy is confined to his old deeds and resists the social changes. For example, the principal purpose of leaving his job was due to his rebellious act against the conformity of the social regulations and rules that surrounded him. Additionally, Sammy’s peak of maturity is revealed when he eventually conforms to the societal regulations as he becomes civilized and ceases the judgments he has on others modes of dressing and living. He, thus, tells himself that resistance is an effortless journey and he should