Sexual Desire In John Updike's A & P

The short story“A&P,” by John Updike is about a teenage clerk at an A&P store who rebels against unwritten society laws and whose actions go unnoticed. His name is Sammy. The young boy similar to the other men in the shop is bewildered by the teenage girls who walk in wearing bathing suits. He assesses the girls’ physical beauty and their personalities. He is particularly interested in the leader of the group that he nicknames “Queenie”. He experiences multiple emotions during the time the girls are inside the store.

The author distinctly seeks to demonstrate the theme of sexual desire as a significant aspect of the story. This is recognized throughout the story where it is acceptable for men to ogle at the young girls who have an incorrect