John Updike's A&P Term Paper

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John Updike's A&P

John Updike's short story "A&P" mingles themes of sexuality, identity, and conformity. "A&P" is surprisingly complex, given its length. At the outset, the story seems like a peek at a young boy's frustrated sexuality. He describes the scantily-clad girls with curiosity, as an observer of social status and body language. A large portion of "A&P" is devoted solely to the lyrical descriptions of the three girls, their lack of clothing, the color of their skin, their heights, and their interactions with each other. Larry is attracted to them, but more than that, he wants to know their stories: why they entered the convenience store dressed in bathing suits when the nearest beach is five miles away. By noticing the items they select and the aisles they choose to walk down, Larry forms a personal impression of the girls. However, the narrator also addresses them as nonconformists, as people who don't fit in. Their shocking dress breaks common norms and codes of behaviors, yet the girls don't seem to be deliberately flaunting themselves sexually. Rather, their attitude appears innocent. Thus, Larry "began to feel sorry for them" when he and the other male employees ogle the trio.

The three girls become symbols for Larry, representatives of individuality, uniqueness, and self-expression. First he hones in on the "chunky" kid, already indicating that her shape deviates from the norms of beauty. Larry likes her "can," and has no problem with her being a little heavier than the other girls.

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Moreover, she is the only one of the three in a two-piece, significant considering her weight. She is obviously proud of her body; she flaunts it not because she wants to provoke men but because she has no reason to be ashamed. Furthermore, her bathing suit is a glaring color, indicating that she is definitely not shy or intimidated by attention.

Larry becomes fascinated with the group dynamic as much as he is with their clothing. He notices that one of the girls is the queen bee, the leader of the pack. He watches how she naturally assumes her position of leadership, based on her body language and the reactions of the other two "Queenie," as he calls her, becomes Larry's next object of attention after the chunky kid. He doesn't pay much attention to the tall girl.

It is obvious that the A&P market is located in a traditional New England town or suburb near Boston. The narrator mentions the Congregational Church, the newspaper store, and Central Street. Thus, "A&P" provides some insight into this subculture and Updike offers a degree of social commentary in his short story. The grumpy lady at the beginning of the tale and the other customers represent conformity and traditional values. Part of the theme of "A&P" is the conflict between these values and those of a changing society, represented by the young Larry begins….....

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