Essay On A & P By John Updike
The Analysis of the Point of View in John Updike’s “A&P”
John Updike's "A&P" narrates a good story that most of its readers get caught up in the flow and attractiveness of its content. At some point, it can be difficult to tell who is narrating the story. One of the most challenging ideas in starting the investigation of fiction is the story's point of view or its perspective. But a story is decorated with the type, the tone, and the perspective of the voice telling it. Therefore, it is important for a reader to identify the narrator's voice so that he or she can identify and examine what effects that voice has on how they view the story.
The voice that John Updike forms for Sammy, who is the main character, is both intentionally unpremeditated and rhythmically descriptive. Updike, in his narration, alternates between informal language, also known as slang, and sharp humor. According to John Updike's point of view, Sammy is an intelligent and an uneducated teen who is capable of creating vividly described images in simple words. For example, Updike narrates that "She had short of oaky hair that the sun and salt had bleached, done up in a bun that was unraveling, and a kind of prime force." It is noticeable how John Updike brings out Sammy's intelligence when he narrates "…I just sauntered into the electric eye …show more content…
This first-person style ensures that the reader finds interest in reading the whole thing. The eagerness to read the next line flows through the story, allowing the reader to develop an idea of Sammy's character and situation. Apparently, the narration of a story primarily depends on who is telling the story. The "A&P" story would be entirely different from the original one if Updike decided to narrate it from Queenie's point of view. The effects of the perspective put a limit or restriction on what details to give and how to give them to the
John Updike's "A&P" narrates a good story that most of its readers get caught up in the flow and attractiveness of its content. At some point, it can be difficult to tell who is narrating the story. One of the most challenging ideas in starting the investigation of fiction is the story's point of view or its perspective. But a story is decorated with the type, the tone, and the perspective of the voice telling it. Therefore, it is important for a reader to identify the narrator's voice so that he or she can identify and examine what effects that voice has on how they view the story.
The voice that John Updike forms for Sammy, who is the main character, is both intentionally unpremeditated and rhythmically descriptive. Updike, in his narration, alternates between informal language, also known as slang, and sharp humor. According to John Updike's point of view, Sammy is an intelligent and an uneducated teen who is capable of creating vividly described images in simple words. For example, Updike narrates that "She had short of oaky hair that the sun and salt had bleached, done up in a bun that was unraveling, and a kind of prime force." It is noticeable how John Updike brings out Sammy's intelligence when he narrates "…I just sauntered into the electric eye …show more content…
This first-person style ensures that the reader finds interest in reading the whole thing. The eagerness to read the next line flows through the story, allowing the reader to develop an idea of Sammy's character and situation. Apparently, the narration of a story primarily depends on who is telling the story. The "A&P" story would be entirely different from the original one if Updike decided to narrate it from Queenie's point of view. The effects of the perspective put a limit or restriction on what details to give and how to give them to the