Comparing The Secretary Chant And A & P
Although Marge Piercy and John Updike write different types of literature, “The Secretary Chant” and “A&P” share similarities. The use of figures of speech in both pieces of literature allows the narrators to describe their job and workspace. The use of metaphors in “The Secretary Chant”, by Marge Piercy, and “A&P”, by John Updike, illustrate the monotonous environment and work the narrators dread. The poem “The Secretary Chant” uses metaphors to describe how inhuman a secretary feels in the workplace. By comparing their body parts to inanimate objects such as “My hips are a desk” (Piercy 1) and “My head is a badly organized file” (8) the narrator relates themselves to the responsibilities of a secretary. Their job became their identity.
Ultimately, the narrator explains how their monotonous job requirements became part of them and makes them less of a human by saying she “wonce was a woman” (22-24). In the short story “A&P” the narrator, Sammy the cashier, compares the people shopping in the store to sheep (Updike 235). This metaphor helps describe the environment of the store. Sheep usually travel in an orderly, efficient, and uniform manner. Comparing the customers to sheep suggest they have a certain way of shopping by following “usual traffic” (235). The unchanging environment in the store makes Sammy bored and contributes to interest with any unusual occurrence. Despite the fact that “The Secretary Chant” and “A&P” are different types of literature, their figures of speech allow for similarities in subject. By comparing the work environment and duties of the narrators using metaphors Piercy and Updike convey how the narrators feel about their jobs. Although the narrator in “The Secretary Chant” loses herself in her work and Sammy in “A&P” becomes bored in the lack of diversity in customers they both dread their jobs.
Ultimately, the narrator explains how their monotonous job requirements became part of them and makes them less of a human by saying she “wonce was a woman” (22-24). In the short story “A&P” the narrator, Sammy the cashier, compares the people shopping in the store to sheep (Updike 235). This metaphor helps describe the environment of the store. Sheep usually travel in an orderly, efficient, and uniform manner. Comparing the customers to sheep suggest they have a certain way of shopping by following “usual traffic” (235). The unchanging environment in the store makes Sammy bored and contributes to interest with any unusual occurrence. Despite the fact that “The Secretary Chant” and “A&P” are different types of literature, their figures of speech allow for similarities in subject. By comparing the work environment and duties of the narrators using metaphors Piercy and Updike convey how the narrators feel about their jobs. Although the narrator in “The Secretary Chant” loses herself in her work and Sammy in “A&P” becomes bored in the lack of diversity in customers they both dread their jobs.