In both “A&P” by John Updike and Goodbye Columbus by Philip Roth, two male characters are significantly influenced by women to make decisions that will affect their lives. In “A&P”, Sammy quits his job in response to the way Lengel treats woman while in Goodbye Columbus, Neil decides to leave Brenda because of Brenda's parents finding out about the diaphragm and the insecurity Neil feels about his background. Sammy and Neil both have many similarities to one another. Besides Sammy and Neil being young in age, they both show sexual desires for women. Sammy describes the girls in a very provocative way which makes it seem to the reader as though these girls are eye candy for Sammy. By the end of the story Sammy quits his job in response to the
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Neil on the other hand is only interested in Brenda and having a relationship with her because of sex. When the diaphragm is found by Brenda's parents, we immediately see the end of the relationship and clearly see the loss of feelings for one another due to the relationship being solely based on lust. Neil also does not allow Brenda into his life due to his insecurity with his wealth and religion, which ultimately ends up being a detrimental aspect to their relationship. Both Sammy and Neil are very similar in the fact that both are part of a society where gender, class, wealth, and sex affect them.
Both Sammy and Neil experience feelings of lust throughout “A&P” and Goodbye Columbus. In “A&P” it’s pretty obvious from the beginning that Sammy views the girls as sexual objects there to please the male eye. Although this may be typical of a 19 year old boy, society has forced us to believe that a woman's body is a sexual object. “She kept her eyes moving across the racks, and stopped, and turned so slow it made my stomach rub the inside of my apron, and buzzed to the other two, who kind of huddled against her for relief (4)”. Here, we can clearly see the way the girls are making Sammy feel and …show more content…
Sammy makes the decision to leave his job in response to the mistreatment of the girls and also in hopes of living a better life beyond the supermarket. Early on in A&P Sammy describes the girls in a very immature and seductive way, typical of a young teenage boy. By the end of the story, Sammy has a new level of respect for the girls. He also makes the mature decision to leave his job not only for the girls, but also to create a new life for himself. He does not want to end up like Lengel and he does not care what the rest of the community will think of him. This process can also be seen with Neil in Goodbye Columbus. Early on in the story Neil feels very insecure about his identity and is overwhelmed by the status level of the Patimkins. By the end of the story, Neil realizes that the relationship is not going to work and believes that the reason Brenda left the diaphragm at her house was so that her parents would find it causing the end of their relationship. Brenda may have begun to feel insecure about being with a man that comes from a different class than she belongs to and therefore decided she wanted things to end. Neil makes the mature decision to end things with Brenda, realizing that this relationship was not going to work anymore. After Neil leaves Brenda in the
Neil on the other hand is only interested in Brenda and having a relationship with her because of sex. When the diaphragm is found by Brenda's parents, we immediately see the end of the relationship and clearly see the loss of feelings for one another due to the relationship being solely based on lust. Neil also does not allow Brenda into his life due to his insecurity with his wealth and religion, which ultimately ends up being a detrimental aspect to their relationship. Both Sammy and Neil are very similar in the fact that both are part of a society where gender, class, wealth, and sex affect them.
Both Sammy and Neil experience feelings of lust throughout “A&P” and Goodbye Columbus. In “A&P” it’s pretty obvious from the beginning that Sammy views the girls as sexual objects there to please the male eye. Although this may be typical of a 19 year old boy, society has forced us to believe that a woman's body is a sexual object. “She kept her eyes moving across the racks, and stopped, and turned so slow it made my stomach rub the inside of my apron, and buzzed to the other two, who kind of huddled against her for relief (4)”. Here, we can clearly see the way the girls are making Sammy feel and …show more content…
Sammy makes the decision to leave his job in response to the mistreatment of the girls and also in hopes of living a better life beyond the supermarket. Early on in A&P Sammy describes the girls in a very immature and seductive way, typical of a young teenage boy. By the end of the story, Sammy has a new level of respect for the girls. He also makes the mature decision to leave his job not only for the girls, but also to create a new life for himself. He does not want to end up like Lengel and he does not care what the rest of the community will think of him. This process can also be seen with Neil in Goodbye Columbus. Early on in the story Neil feels very insecure about his identity and is overwhelmed by the status level of the Patimkins. By the end of the story, Neil realizes that the relationship is not going to work and believes that the reason Brenda left the diaphragm at her house was so that her parents would find it causing the end of their relationship. Brenda may have begun to feel insecure about being with a man that comes from a different class than she belongs to and therefore decided she wanted things to end. Neil makes the mature decision to end things with Brenda, realizing that this relationship was not going to work anymore. After Neil leaves Brenda in the