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Literary comparison essay
"a&p" analysis
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In the short story called "A & P" by John Updike, our main character Sammy is described as being a checkout clerk at the local grocery store. Sammy quits his job for many reasons. Sammy does not want to be referred as a "sheep", someone that follows, instead he wishes to do things on his own. Sammy begins the story by describing the three girls in bathing suits who have walked into the A & P grocery store. The girl who catches his attention is a chunky girl in a plaid green two-piece swimsuit. As Sammy continues to observe the girls, his interest seems to focus only on the girl who leads the other two into the store. Sammy refers to the girl he likes as "Queenie",someone showing poise and leadership, while the other girls seem to just tag along like a herd of sheep. Being distracted by the unusual event, he forgets what he's doing, as his customer, an elderly lady with heavy red make-up on her lips and cheeks, gets frustrated and starts to correct Sammy's inattentive service. The story elaborates on how Sammy is very observant, and we begin to understand his perspectives on events he appreciates versus those he doesn't. Sammy further describes the girls, saying to himself "You never know for sure how girls' minds work (do you really think it's a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar?) you get the idea she had talked the other two into coming in here with her, and now she was showing them how to do it, walk slow and hold yourself straight."(16). Sammy believes that the other two girls are willing to tag along with "Queenie" because she talked them into going, pointing out they just like anything and everything that "Queenie" likes for the sake of being cool, and once the interest in somethin... ... middle of paper ... ..., to act like if nothing had happened, he would be a "sheep" himself. Sammy doesn't want to be told what to do and such. He wants to make his own decisions. He feels that he has the right to stand up for himself. Sammy considers a "sheep" is someone who can't stand up for themselves or a follower. This is a cute short story. I like the fact that Updike tries to point out and relate to the people of society nowdays. Updike relates to how the average person changes, but that doesn't mean everyone. And it's not good to be seen a "sheep." Don't be a follower. It's better for one to have a brain and be different. Don't be the person who goes out to buy a red hat because you've just seen a commerical on red hats. We're suppose to be unique and special. This is why Sammy quit his job, he doesn't want to be seen as a "sheep." He believes that everyone should be themselves.
There is two main types of people in the story "A&P by John Updike". The types are conformity vs rebellion. Sammy in the story is a rebel.
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
As they go about their errands, Sammy observes the reactions, of the other customers, to this trio of young women. He uses the word "Sheep" to describe the store regulars, as they seem to follow one and other, in their actions and reactions. The girls, however, appear to be unique in all aspects of their beings: walking, down the isles, against the grain, going barefoot and in swim suits, amongst the properly attired clientele. They are different, and this is what catches and holds Sammy's attention. He sees them in such detail, that he can even see the queen of the bunch.
From the beginning of the story, it is clear that Sammy in no way likes his job, nor is he fond of the customers and people he is surrounded by each day. To Sammy, they are nothing more than "sheep" going through the motions of life. "I bet you could set off dynamite in an A&P and the people would by and large keep reaching and checking oatmeal off their lists and muttering Let me see, there was a third thing, began with A, asparagus, no, ah, yes, applesauce!' or whatever it was they do mutter." (Updike, 693). He view them negatively; to him they are boring and useless, living mundane and unimportant lives and it's obvious through Sammy's portrayal of them that he doesn't want to ever become one of them, nor does he want to be around them any longer.
...s that Sammy is taking a stand and that Lengel cannot change his mind about quitting. When Sammy left the store, the girls where long gone. "His face was dark gray and his back stiff, as if he's just had an injection of iron, and my stomach kind of felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter." This quote illustrates that Sammy knows that his parents will not like the fact that he quit, but he realizes that he has to take charge with his life, and make his own chooses without being afraid of what his parents would think. He is very happy that he had taken a stand, and he let no one change it.
See, there was an old shepherd with three rams and seven sheep. He could barely stay alive with his herd, but he was happy. But then, his sheep started disappearing. Hopelessly, he searched for answers, and soon he realised a wolf was following him. He moved around as much as he could in hopes of shaking the wolf off, but he was unsuccessful. One by one, his sheep were slaughtered, until the old shepherd only had two sheep and three
Sammy begins to describe the girls, who are summer visitors to the area when they are first noticed near the bread aisle. He especially points out the chunky kid in the green two-piece and describes her “can” with the white crescents at the tops of her legs. Then Sammy proceeds to describe one of the girls as the queen because the manner, in which, she carries herself and how she led the others. Sammy then proceeds to refer to her as Queenie throughout the remainder of the story due to her high society demeanor. All the time he has his hand on a box of crackers that he cannot remember if he has rung them up yet. Sammy then goes on to describe the customer being rung up as “cash-register-watcher.” The author goes into great detail to develop most characters within this story. Sammy is developed throughout the story and even foreshadows the meeting with Lengel. Sammy’s defining moment is when he decides to quit his job as a grocery store clerk/ bagger in a show of defiance to the established norm, and as a way of standing up against the unaccepting society due to the way, Lengel treated the girls because of their attire. All the while, Sammy was hoping that the girls would take notice of his stand in their honor. When questioned about quitting by Sammy’s boss, Lengel, Sammy almost questions his decision but realizes that it would be detrimental to the gesture he has begun. The realization of this lesson for Sammy was also a life lesson of the difficulties that lay ahead for him and ultimately he was left all alone in the parking lot with his bad
He criticizes his family and their background when he says, “when my parents have somebody over they get lemonade and if it’s a real racy affair, Schlitz in tall glasses with ‘They’ll do it every time’ cartoons stenciled on.” Sammy desires to move from a blue collar to a white collar family to differentiate him from his family. He shows his growing maturity when he says, “the girls who’d blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I say ‘I quit’ to Lengal quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero.” He wants to be noticed by the girls for his selfless act of quitting his job for them. His plan does not work though, and the girls leave him to face Lengal alone. Lengal confronts Sammy and says, “Sammy, you don’t want to do this to your mom and dad.” Sammy ponders Lengal’s comment and thinks to himself, “It’s true, I don’t. But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it.” Sammy has begun to reach maturity and now wants to make his own decisions concerning his future and how he spends
Any person in general can be defined by his or her actions. When Sammy tells Lengal he quits, Lengal asks Sammy to repeat what he said, even though he heard him the first time. Sammy saying he quit did have an impact, but it’s when Sammy took of his apron that it set him apart from everyone else in the store. He wasn’t a “sheep” or a corporate follower. His removal of his apron, just like Queenies bathing suits, expresses freedom from the chains of society and the corporate mentality. Sammy's decision to quit places him on an uncertain path for his future, but at least he has a future where he can be true to
Lengel, the manager of the store, spots the girls and gives them a hard time about their dress in the store. He tells them, “Girls, this isn’t the beach.” He says that they are not dressed appropriately to come into this grocery store. Lengel’s words cause Queenie to get embarrassed and start to blush. Sammy cannot believe this and gets frustrated at his boss. He doesn’t believe that it is right to prosecute these innocent girls for the way they are dressed. He also states at this point that the sheep are piling up over in Stokesie line trying to avoid all the commotion the scene has caused. I believe Sammy takes this as the last straw in a long string of aggravations.
Even with his rebellion, nothing changed. There will always be someone willing to follow the corporate and societal rules ready to step into his position. As he peered through the window of the A&P storefront, it was Lengel who stepped in and herded the sheep through the corral as he checked them out. Life was still moving forward as though his grand rebellion never occurred. Updike describes Lengel’s appearance, “dark gray and his back stiff, as if he’s just had an injection of iron”, just as his actions were; hard, stiff and inflexible. As Sammy looks back through the window, he realizes the world is full of Lengels and life amongst them is going to be difficult. As the quote states, “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter”, life will not take it easy on him and if he is unwilling to conform, things will be challenging for
Now that Sammy has chosen to become a juvenile delinquent, he realizes "how hard the world was going to be" for him in the future. He has left a life of safety and direction for one of the complete opposite, and he must be willing to accept the responsibilities of his actions, no matter the consequences.
...up on Stokesie like sheep, Engel explains that policy insists that shoulders must be covered. Policy is what the kingpins want. What others want is juvenile delinquency. Like a champ Sammy throws in the towel. He watched as 3 girls bucked the norm and alternately was confident enough to quit altogether. They get away from him and his feet are carrying him to the place of his residence rather than a car, reserved for higher classes. He ends with the thought how hard the world was to be to me hereafter. Sammy?s variety of verbal simulations and creations for the reader reveal the social and economic classes of basic society. The adults like animals, the attractive women- analyzed on a pedestal in full description and personification, employees get harped on too. Stoksie was a little to ambitious for a bagger, and management was regarded like the rest of the animals.
He judged the customers all together instead of separate. While the customers were walking around the store shopping, Sammy calls them house slaves. As the the customers began checking out, and Lengel was arguing with the girls; Sammy says the customers were, "Sheep, seeing a scene, they had all bunched up on Stokesie." Even though Sammy judges everyone in the store, what he does is not heroic.
father's sheep. He was a very courageous boy. When a wolf tried to steal a sheep,