Character analysis - Grade: colle PDF

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1 Sammy’s Decision Many people in their youth go through the experience of a having a job they wish they could quit. In John Updikes short story “A&P” Sammy, a teenage cashier at a local grocery store in a small town, makes the decision to act on his impulse to quit his job. Throughout the story, events occur that lead to Sammy’s realization that he wants to quit, such as three girls in bathing suits walking into the store, the same customers he deals with every day, and finally his boss embarrassing the three young girls in bathing suits. Three young girls walk into the grocery store wearing bathing suits at the beginning of the story. Sammy follows their actions throughout the store the whole time they are there. He seems to be very judgmental of them as he describes them “there was this one, with one of those chubby berry-faces, the lips all bunched together under her nose, this one, and a tall one, with black hair that hadn't quite frizzed right, and one of these sunburns right across under the eyes, and a chin that was too long” (Updike 437). He recognizes one of them as a leader and labels her queen. While it seems, Sammy is simply judging these girls, they truly represent something different to him. They are different from other customers that he sees every day, especially the queen. She represents an embolden person that breaks from the normal routine Sammy is used to from customers in the store. This begins Sammy’s realization of how tired he is of his job and daily routine at the A&P. Sammy’s distain for the regular customers of the A&P is apparent throughout the story. He encounters a woman that he describes as, “one of these cash-register-watchers, a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows,” and then he refers to mundane regular customers as, “The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle” (Updike 437). Sammy describing the customers this way is another representation of how he feels bored and a in a rut at this job.

Figueroa 2 Seeing the same customers every day and dealing with them has led Sammy to become judgmental and jaded towards them. This attitude is reflected throughout the story in the way he describes the customers. Therefore, he so drawn to the three girls in the store, because they represent a break in the normal and mundane routine. After Sammy sees his boss embarrass the young girls for wearing their bathing suits into the store he tells his boss that he quits. It seems that Sammy is making an impulsive decision based off the girls being there and his hope that they notice his quitting “I say "I quit" to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they'll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero.” (Updike 437). However, truly the girls empowered Sammy to make this decision that he seemed to want all along. He realizes his power to make this decision, in spite of the fact that he understands the consequences may be serve. The actions by his boss towards these young women were really just an excuse for Sammy to do what he truly wanted to do in quitting. Sammy’s realization of his own power over his life and his decisions is really the theme of the story. The girls coming into the store and breaking the normal routine of what Sammy is used to seeing every day at his job was the main event that lead to this realization. The everyday customers that he encounters are a representation of his boredom, however it took something out of the norm to help him see his true desire. The story is about coming of age and realizing you have the power to change your life. Sammy realized that power in an instant when his boss confronted the girls. At first it seems Sammy’s decision was impulsive and that he might regret his decision. However, he stays firm and true to his actions despite the consequences and realizes his own power and control over his life as a young adult. Word count: 687

Figueroa 3...