John Updike's short story titled A&P is contemporary piece of writing that provides great entertainment to the reader. Updike's A&P is the best short story in my opinion, because its characters, setting, and diction all work together perfectly to capture and hold the reader's attention. The story starts off with pretty much no warning of what it's about. From the onset, the author reveals little insight to the reader; until about half way through the piece. However, all of a sudden, the reader is cast into a supermarket in 1961 on a typical slow Thursday, when a group of patrons create a stir in the seemingly mundane environment.
The story is written in the point of view of a nineteen year old young man named Sammy, who works in a small town grocery store in New England. Sammy, the protagonist in the story, reflects on the various patrons who frequent the A&P daily. On this particular day, Sammy finds himself fascinated by a particular group of girls. Just in from the beach and still in their bathing suits, the girls spark the attention of the "conservative" store's population who Sammy interestingly refers to as “sheep”, “house slaves in pin curlers”, “register watchers” and “women with 6 kids and varicose veins”. (Updike, ) Sammy, describes the three girls in admiration, unlike the other …show more content…
Updike gives the readers a view into a town where it's citizens follow pre-determined rules, a set path, and similar habits until a group of girls enter a grocery store and defy those norms. A young man with a vivid imagination and a hunger for adoration becomes a "hero" when he decides to quit his job in protest of the girls being treated unfairly. Although the story is written in the 1960's the issues presented in the story are still relevant in today's
The story is written in the point of view of a nineteen year old young man named Sammy, who works in a small town grocery store in New England. Sammy, the protagonist in the story, reflects on the various patrons who frequent the A&P daily. On this particular day, Sammy finds himself fascinated by a particular group of girls. Just in from the beach and still in their bathing suits, the girls spark the attention of the "conservative" store's population who Sammy interestingly refers to as “sheep”, “house slaves in pin curlers”, “register watchers” and “women with 6 kids and varicose veins”. (Updike, ) Sammy, describes the three girls in admiration, unlike the other …show more content…
Updike gives the readers a view into a town where it's citizens follow pre-determined rules, a set path, and similar habits until a group of girls enter a grocery store and defy those norms. A young man with a vivid imagination and a hunger for adoration becomes a "hero" when he decides to quit his job in protest of the girls being treated unfairly. Although the story is written in the 1960's the issues presented in the story are still relevant in today's