Impulsive Decision In John Updike's A & P
Have you ever regretted an impulsive decision? In the story, “A & P” by John Updike, three girls walk into a supermarket wearing bikinis. The main character, Sammy is confused because he says, “... our town is five miles from a beach… we’re right in the middle of town…” (Updike, 17). He continues to describe and think about the girls, but reveals very little about his personality directly. The supermarket manager, Lengel, tells the girls that they cannot be dressed like that in the store. As the story continues, Sammy changes from a bored supermarket clerk to an obsessed nineteen year old boy with a specific customer in a bikini to a sympathetic hero who regrets his rescue in the end.
Sammy, a normal nineteen year old boy thought it was just …show more content…
He does not think it through; he just goes off of an impulsive decision. Sammy takes a stand against Lengel. He says that he is being too harsh on the girls, which is the story’s crisis. Lengel told Sammy that he did not have to stick up for the girls, it was not necessary and he should get back to work. Sammy still wants to impress Queenie and get her attention so he says he quits his job, which is the story’s climax. He surprises everyone in the store as he takes his apron and bow-tie off, and walks out to go to the girls.
When Sammy goes out to see the girls, he does not see them anywhere in sight. He searches for them, but he sees no girls in bikinis. He looks around, wondering what he is going to do next. Sammy does not achieve in reaching his goal in trying to impress Queenie because when he quit his job, the girls did not give him a second look. Sammy then realizes he is going to have a hard time in life because nothing to be easy anymore.
In conclusion, Sammy does not impress Queenie, which was his goal. He lost his job, which was probably given to him because Lengel was a family friend. So from now on, he must learn to actually work for what he wants and begin to grow up. If he had not gone off of an impulsive decision, he still might have his job. Sammy must learn what it is like to actually work and learn to think about the consequences of his decisions before he
Sammy, a normal nineteen year old boy thought it was just …show more content…
He does not think it through; he just goes off of an impulsive decision. Sammy takes a stand against Lengel. He says that he is being too harsh on the girls, which is the story’s crisis. Lengel told Sammy that he did not have to stick up for the girls, it was not necessary and he should get back to work. Sammy still wants to impress Queenie and get her attention so he says he quits his job, which is the story’s climax. He surprises everyone in the store as he takes his apron and bow-tie off, and walks out to go to the girls.
When Sammy goes out to see the girls, he does not see them anywhere in sight. He searches for them, but he sees no girls in bikinis. He looks around, wondering what he is going to do next. Sammy does not achieve in reaching his goal in trying to impress Queenie because when he quit his job, the girls did not give him a second look. Sammy then realizes he is going to have a hard time in life because nothing to be easy anymore.
In conclusion, Sammy does not impress Queenie, which was his goal. He lost his job, which was probably given to him because Lengel was a family friend. So from now on, he must learn to actually work for what he wants and begin to grow up. If he had not gone off of an impulsive decision, he still might have his job. Sammy must learn what it is like to actually work and learn to think about the consequences of his decisions before he