How Does John Updike Use Figurative Language In A & P

In the short story “A&P,” John Updike goes through the first person account of the main character’s Sammy’s last day at work. He uses many types of figurative language and narrative techniques in the story to set up an in depth, meaningful theme. Throughout, the simplicity of the story complements the author's style in a way that makes his point of view noticeable. Sammy’s attitudes throughout are conflicting and he does have an epiphany, but it seems to be for the wrong reason. Sammy’s personal ambitions cause him to act irrational and do many things out of spite. First, the setting of “A&P” plays a major role in the plot of the story but also an important factor in the thematic value of the story. “The cool of the A&P, under the fluorescent lights, against all those stacked packages, with her feet paddling along naked over our checkerboard green-and-cream rubber-tile floor” (Updike 373). With the urban setting and the girls wearing clothes that expose them as if they were right next to the beach. The girl’s clothing and the way they carry themselves cause Sammy to come off a …show more content…
He does this to impress the girls but in doing so he shows a deeper meaning of the story. He wants these girls to like him for being a hero and standing up for their honor but for the wrong reasons. Sammy sees that his manager wants people to conform; “‘Girls i don’t want to argue with you. After this come in here with your shoulders covered. It’s our policy”’ (Updike 375). Sammy notices the girls do not want to dress normally so he begins to act differently because of the action of others. The cascade of actions shown in the story exemplifies how nonconformity works in the real world and how it brought so much change in throughout