A & P John Updike

Words: 640
Pages: 3

In the short story A&P by John Updike, a young teen named Sammy, the protagonist, is an employee who works at a local grocery shop. He isn’t really satisfied with his job or the atmosphere. He also doesn’t really like his boss, Lengel. One day, an event in the store occurs when the manager embarrasses some shoppers and Sammy must make a decision. Sammy feels he must stand up for his beliefs and bravely quits his job.
Every day at work, Sammy watches the shoppers and feels like they are sheep. He compares them to sheep because he feels they just follow along with everyone else, doing what society expects of them. Many of his days are the same in the store until one day when he meets these three girls in bathing suits that came shopping at his workplace. As one of the girls begins walking toward Sammy’s register so they could purchase their items, Lengel, the manager approaches the girls to remind them that the store isn’t the beach. He tells them that the next time they come into the store, they should dress appropriately. Sammy decides right then and there to quit his job because he feels that Lengel’s reaction toward the girls was insulting. It appears that Sammy also quit to gain the girls’ attention but as he walks outside, the girls are nowhere to be found. Either way,
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Once people say they will do something, they have to stick with it. People should not be afraid to fight and speak up for what they think is right and they don’t need to follow what everyone else follows. The shoppers represent the society and doing what is expected. The girls represent the rebellion and people who aren’t afraid to be themselves. Sammy rebelled against society because he discovered something he believes in. Even though he’s now without a job, he’s accepted it because he was true to himself. Learning to be oneself is a big part of being an adult and Sammy showed his