A & P By Updike Summary

The short piece of fiction, A&P by Updike was a very interesting read that conveyed a lot of information and ideas about society to think about in very few words. The events that transpire occur in a common place, the grocery store, yet these event could have taken place just about anywhere similar to the grocery store and had the same impact. It is the way the author describes the characters and their actions that carry the message. The author uses Sammy to give the reader all the information about the setting even it doesn't seem obvious or clear. Sammy gives insight into the economic class and educational level of the characters as well as the social views of the town especially centered around the grocery store. For example, the town is
highly influenced by religion and the ideals that go along with it such as modesty. This is shown through the manager at the grocery store. Though it is interesting the way Sammy reacts to the girls as the traverse the grocery store and his reaction at the end of the story. He watches them almost like a hawk, examining them from head to toe, focusing on key areas of the body. He surmises the class of the three girls and their disinterest in him, yet when the manger is lecturing the girls over their cloth choices he ups and quits. It is something that seems very out of character for him and his economic position. It was not like his gallant efforts were going to turn the heads of the three girls, yet for some reason he does it anyway. Hand in hand with that ideas brings up the question of why it is so important that we have such a detail description of these girls. Everyone else in the story is described very briefly, yet these three girls are described in pain staking detail down to the tan lines on their bodies. It seems unnecessary to the overall theme and story of this piece of fiction, when most of the content to the story happens right at the end.