A&P by John Updike Analysis

Sammy, a teenage employee at an A&P grocery shop, is the main character of John Updike's story A&P. Three girls enter the shop wearing bathing suits, creating a commotion with their choice of attire. They receive a reprimand for entering the shop nearly naked and disturbing the staff members from store manager Lengel, who is unimpressed. Sammy and a coworker named Stokesie make fun of the ladies' attire. After being embarrassed by the manager for wearing their bathing suits to the shop, Queenie, the group's leader, protests. Sammy is dissatisfied with Lengel's behavior and quits his employment, choosing not to heed the manager's cautions that he would later come to regret. Sammy's intention is to attract the attention of the girls but is left alone since when he reaches the parking lot the girls are already gone.

Apart from the events that happen in the story, conformity and rebellion are clearly expressed through some of the characters. The character of the employees and their attitudes in life is revealed such as Sammy who feels that he cannot be a sheep or house-slave milling around the grocery store like his colleagues. Stokesie is interested in rising up to the position of manager but Sammy is not interested in being assimilated into corporate culture of A&P. The theme of conformity and rebellion is clear as shown by some employees who appear to be loyal while others such as Sammy rebel. The story also reveals generational conflict related to public decency.

The reader should care about Sammy's thoughts and decisions since they reveal his prejudices and weakness. He seems to be immature, as he quits his job due to lust. He wants to set himself apart from the rest and ends up losing. This is a lesson to individuals that are filled with desire for things that are beyond their reach.