Literary Analysis of A&P
In the short story “A&P” by John Updike I will be discussing a couple of literary elements such as the narrator’s perspective, themes, conflicts and symbolism. Trying to conclude what makes Sammy tick. The above referenced literary elements help play out the outcome of this story.
The story A&P is narrated by a character named Sammy. He is a cashier at the A&P. At the beginning of the story Sammy seems to be telling us the truth as he sees it through his own perspective, it makes him unreliable because his point of view is limited. He senses that most adults are like sheep. The narrator’s limited perspective makes him unreliable. Throughout the story there is significant growth on his part. It shows that he's willing …show more content…
In making his decision to quit his job over the treatment of these ladies to come to realize they didn’t even notice.
Sammy's point of view changes over the course of the story. At the beginning of the story he's complaining to himself about the social norms in life. When Queenie and the other two girls show him a simple way of mocking these said norms. Symbolism can be referenced when they walk into the A&P wearing their bathing suits in the store, which causes a commotion further leading Sammy to follow suit by removing his bow tie and apron when he quits after arguing with his manager over the attire and his position in society. In this action he is expressing solidarity with the girls through his clothing, a lot like the girls, which is sign of activism on his part. Throughout the story he goes from complaining about what he seems to be a problem to actually doing something about it. I found symbolism in the bathing suits. The bathing suits that the girls wore into the A&P is a symbol of the girl’s disregard of the social norms. It represents a sign of provocation, in order to grab the attention of every man they encounter. Sammy is drawn to the girls as soon as he comes in contact with them simply because they
In the short story “A&P” by John Updike I will be discussing a couple of literary elements such as the narrator’s perspective, themes, conflicts and symbolism. Trying to conclude what makes Sammy tick. The above referenced literary elements help play out the outcome of this story.
The story A&P is narrated by a character named Sammy. He is a cashier at the A&P. At the beginning of the story Sammy seems to be telling us the truth as he sees it through his own perspective, it makes him unreliable because his point of view is limited. He senses that most adults are like sheep. The narrator’s limited perspective makes him unreliable. Throughout the story there is significant growth on his part. It shows that he's willing …show more content…
In making his decision to quit his job over the treatment of these ladies to come to realize they didn’t even notice.
Sammy's point of view changes over the course of the story. At the beginning of the story he's complaining to himself about the social norms in life. When Queenie and the other two girls show him a simple way of mocking these said norms. Symbolism can be referenced when they walk into the A&P wearing their bathing suits in the store, which causes a commotion further leading Sammy to follow suit by removing his bow tie and apron when he quits after arguing with his manager over the attire and his position in society. In this action he is expressing solidarity with the girls through his clothing, a lot like the girls, which is sign of activism on his part. Throughout the story he goes from complaining about what he seems to be a problem to actually doing something about it. I found symbolism in the bathing suits. The bathing suits that the girls wore into the A&P is a symbol of the girl’s disregard of the social norms. It represents a sign of provocation, in order to grab the attention of every man they encounter. Sammy is drawn to the girls as soon as he comes in contact with them simply because they