John Updikes

Student 1
Sally Student
English 1302
Frances D. Suarez
20 February 2013
The Folly of Youth in John Updike 's "A & P" A cavalier attitude can lead to disaster is the dominant theme in John Updike 's entertaining short story, "A & P." Sammy is a nonchalant adolescent working at a large grocery chain located on the east coast. His thoughts and actions display his shallow personality as self-centered and intolerant. As a result, he has little regard for women or authority. Updike develops Sammy 's character as arrogant, sexist, and immature. To start, Updike demonstrates Sammy 's arrogant attitude through his thoughts about patrons. For example, while working at the register, Sammy accidentally rings up an item twice. Because the customer notices his mistake and questions him, he describes her as "one of those cash-register watchers, a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows" (Updike 97). Sammy is irritated because the customer notices his mistake, and so takes out his irritability on her. Also, Sammy 's depiction of the "sheep pushing their carts down the aisle" is evidence that he feels superior to the customers (98). Furthermore, his condescending view of "houseslaves in pin curlers" reveals his disdain and arrogance for a certain collection of store patrons (98). Sammy 's thoughts are also confirmation of his haughtiness. For example, he compares customers to animals. He portrays them as "scared pigs in a chute" (99). This

Student 2 comparison further reveals Sammy 's arrogance. His characterization of patrons personifies his feelings of superiority. As a result, it is clear that Sammy is uncaring and egotistical. Likewise, Updike depicts Sammy 's sexist attitude in his comments about the young girls in bathing suits. This sexist attitude can be seen when Sammy is standing in his check-out slot, and three girls enter the store wearing bathing suits. He describes various body parts of the girls in detail, viewing them as objects. For instance, he describes one of the girls as "a chunky kid, with a good tan and sweet broad soft-looking can" (Updike 97). Sammy views the girls as objects instead of human beings. His description also demonstrates that his focus is on the girls ' physical attributes. Moreover, Sammy categorizes the girls according to their looks. For example, he uses the words "Queenie and Plaid and big tall Gooney-Gooney" when he describes the girls (101). These disparaging expressions further illustrate his sexist attitude. Although Sammy is intrigued by the girls, his descriptions of them exhibit a lack of respect for women as human beings. Furthermore, Updike demonstrates Sammy 's immaturity through his disrespect for authority. He appears to have little sense of responsibility. For, instance, Sammy quits his job after his boss scolds the girls for their attire. His sole reason for quitting is to impress the girls. He says " 'I Quit ' to [his boss] quick enough for them to hear, hoping they 'll stop and watch [him] their unsuspected hero" (Updike 100). Sammy thinks that quitting will make the girls notice him. Sammy demonstrates his immaturity again after he quits. He pushes the "No Sale tab" on the register in rebellion (101). This gesture is intended to further humiliate his boss. Also, he gives no forethought to the consequences of his actions. Sammy does not mind that his boss will have to take over his position at the register. Perhaps realizing his mistake, Sammy relates, "My
Student 3 stomach kind of fell as I felt how hard the world would be to me hereafter" (101). Nevertheless, he does not return to the store to apologize. All of these actions characterize Sammy 's irresponsibility and immaturity. Ultimately, because of Sammy 's arrogance, sexist attitude, and immaturity, he only hurts himself. His childish behavior leaves him jobless. In addition, he does not find the girls he was trying to impress, and he will have some explaining to do to his parents who were responsible for his job in the first place. Updike has presented the story of a young man whose life will continue to be difficult unless he recognizes his mistakes and begins to treat others as equal human beings. Works Cited
Updike, John. “A & P.” Compact Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013. 234-238. Print.

Cited: Updike, John. “A & P.” Compact Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Boston: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, 2013. 234-238. Print.