Compare And Contrast A & P And Greasy Lake

There is always a vantage point in everyone lives when they decide what kind of person they will become. Most of the time they saw it in the teenage age. The excitement of wanting to try new elements, such as drinking, smoking, or “love” exploring brought people to a new sky. Do they stay in the dark cloud or do they step out to the bright sky? Sammy of the “A&P” and the mystery narrator from “Greasy Lake” represent those in the clearest way that we can see.

Throughout the stories, both characters are showing strong scents of refusing their present status. Sammy is a nineteen years-old boy working at a grocery store who stands up against the manager to impress the girl he has fallen to. The mystery narrator from “Greasy Lake” is also nineteen years youth. He is playing as a bad character whom any teen thought was cool at that time – the bad boy. But what he experiences is not a prank but what a real bad guy would do. Luckily, Sammy and the narrator realize the dark cloud that covering them all this time after the conflict with others. “Wisdom comes alone through suffering”. (qtd Aeschylus)

But life is not a fairytale. Standing there lonely, having no job is our Sammy. This is when Sam realizes his path, the true way to become mature. The moment when “Lengel sighs and begins to look very patient:” Sammy, you don’t want to do this to your mom and dad” (Updike) hold him back a little bit, we can feel the regret in his heart. But he cannot go back anymore, decision has been made. He gives up his last chance; from now on, he’s on his own. Sammy finally understands that it is responsible behavior but not playing “adult-like” game that will make him a true