Immarity In John Updike's A & P

Thesis: “A&P” examines how Sammy quits his job due to his overall immaturity, flagrant disrespect and disparaging criticism towards others.

In “A&P,” Sammy seems to be very critical of co-workers and customers. His attitude as a cashier is very demeaning towards co-workers and customers. He suggests that the shoppers are like “sheep pushing their carts down the aisle” (Updike 149). Expressing his thoughts in this manner conveys just how he feels about his workplace. Furthermore, Sammy contradicts his own opinions by condemning his co-workers when they communicate to the girls that they are wearing inappropriate clothing in the store. For all intents and purposes, he disregards the fact that he is doing the exact same thing. He sees one of his co-workers, McMahon, “sizing up their joints”
For example, an older woman decides to complain to him about ringing up her crackers a second time, and he responds silently to himself, “if she had been born at the right time they would have burned her over in Salem” (148). He genuinely has a dislike for everyone who comes into contact with him. He makes another bad decision when he impolitely asserts that the only difference between Stokesie and himself is that [Stokesie] has “two babies chalked up on his fuselage” (150). The fact that he is willing to disrespect an elder, so to speak, just further demonstrates his lack of maturity. When he finally decides to abruptly quit his job, he is undeniably rude to his boss, Lengel. After he quits, we find out that Lengel is a “friend of [Sammy’s] parents” (152). Since Lengel is actually seen as a responsible adult, he tries to convince Sammy not to make this decision. He explains that the burden will ultimately fall back onto his parents. Nevertheless, Sammy will do what Sammy wants to do. He does not think about anybody but himself, and he walks out the