On A & P By John Updike Analysis

On A&P by John Updike, Sammy is a 19 years old boy that works as a cashier at A&P in a small town north of Boston, five miles away from a beach. He describes the moment when three girls walk into the store on swimsuits which was unusual to be seen in 1960’s when the story takes place, and they end up being humiliated by the store manager. At that time someone showing up in public with bathing suits almost naked was obscene and unacceptable, especially for women. “The Sheep pushing their carts down the aisle – the girls were walking against the usual traffic…” symbolizes people doing what they want careless of what others would think about or what they expect them to do. That society should not dictate the way people should behave, dress or