In John Updike’s “A&P”, a young man, Sammy, who decides to be a “hero” to three young women wearing bathing suits into the store. Updike introduces us to Sammy, a 19 years old, who has indecisive sexual urges and drives, and unconsciously gets aroused by the three girls wearing bathing suits. He analyzes the girls, as if they were objects, with an unusual sense of entertainment. Lengel, the store manager, later come in and scolds the girls, passionately explaining that their clothing isn’t welcome in the store environment. Although, Lengel took care of the situation professionally, Sammy didn’t agree with the way it was handled, and abruptly quit his job.
Sammy is an immature young man, trying to be adventurous, he sees an opportunity to impress the girls but also make a statement about personal freedom, costing him his job. Sammy shows immaturity, from the beginning of the story, as he critics and patrionizes every customer that walks into A&P. Sammy refers to one of the customers as a “witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows” despite it being his mistake for ringing up her box of crackers twice and deserving her scolding. Sammy’s immaturity is also shown when he refers to some of the other customers as “house slaves” instead of housewives. The usage of the term “slaves” is polemic and shouldn’t be used lightly. In addition, Sammy reduces the value of the customers from human beings to animals by portraying them as “sheep”. Sammy’s physical fascination with the girls results in him rashly quitting his job in an attempt to impress Queenie, shows his immaturity.
Sammy is uninterested in the job, but is rather intrigued by the customers. As this is the only way to keep himself entertained. He is opinionated and makes judgements on the customers based on physical appearance. As he compares the girls much nicer than the older lady in the check out line. Sammy illustrates Queenie being “more than pretty” when her swimsuit slips to show her shoulders and the slow manner that Queenie turns makes his “stomach rub the inside of his apron.” He compliments her while also using strong perverted vocabulary. Sammy describes things or people dramatically in the sense that he provides accurate imagination to feel and understand his perceptions. His way of expressing his actions and words change his views of his world. Sammy’s job is a liability to him and family; he helps contribute to the monthly income and household bills. Sammy seems like he comes from a hard working middle class family. Lengel emphasis to Sammy that “you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad,” his decision isn’t going to be pleasing to his parents, for Lengel gave Sammy a job because of his parents. Lengel gave Sammy a second choice, to take back his decision but Sammy stuck to his choice.
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This was a crucial point in the story. Sammy was facing a roadblock, which could impact his life for better or worse. Sammy has forced himself to grow up, and stop being reliant on his parents, Lengel, and his job at A&P, and start being independent. Sammy’s persona is dynamic. His actions and motivations are not stable throughout the story. In the beginning of the story, he is observant and analyses the girls, easily affected by his environment. As Lengel intrudes with his conservative viewpoints about the clothing of the girls, Sammy starts to become upset. Making a statement about personal freedom, Sammy may have seen himself as the girls, free and independent. Trying to impress the girls while doing what he thinks is right, he makes an irrational decision of quitting. Sammy questions his decision realising his action, as “he felt how hard the world was going to be to him hereafter”, experiencing a valuable life lesson.
Sammy is a character who is normal with dignity and pride, yet he is unusual for his detailed observation of the surrounding environment. He is portrayed as an immature 19 year old with odd desires, as a typical young male is distractacted from his duties, Sammy’s hormones kick in he sees the three young females. He makes the abrupt choice of quitting, while trying to get the attention of the girls. He was also trying to fight Lengel’s conservative viewpoints. As the story progresses, he becomes conscious of his decisions and matures from a teenager to a responsible man.
