Updike's A&p John Updike's Short Research Proposal

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This interpretation is given further credence by the old butcher's "sizing up their joints."

This has been a contentious point in literature, politics, and the social sciences pretty much since the beginning of recorded history (and probably long before that). Sammy's boss Mr. Lengel does not appreciate the girls' dress, and repeats several times that the a&P is not a beach, eventually demanding that the girls cover up better before coming into the store the next time. Because of the frankness of the description of the girls and the obvious sexual desire expressed by Sammy and the other men, I was not too surprised that the girls' bathing suits earned negative commentary by the end of the story. The girls' reaction, though, did make me realize how much society has changed since the time the story was written. Now, not only do people (especially girls and women) wear much more revealing clothes, but a comment such as Lengel's would probably have met with an argument rather than embarrassment.

Although the girls' reaction to being chastised for their immodesty was somewhat surprising to me, Sammy's reaction to the incident was even more startling. Nothing about his character in the bulk of the story suggests anything like the spine that Sammy shows in his decision to quit. In fact, Updike leaves the motives of Sammy's decision slightly ambiguous. He tells Mr. Lengel that he is quitting because of the way Lengel treated the girls, but at the same time he wants the girls to notice his "heroic" actions after their embarrassment and even looks for them once he is outside, suggesting it is not really his spine showing its presence this late in the story, but rather that he is still being led by a different body part. At any rate, his decision to end his employment based on this single very sexually driven incident seems rash. I found myself inwardly cheering for him, as there have been many times at my various jobs that I have felt like making the same sort of principled stand that Sammy makes at the end of this story.

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At the same time, I have generally realized that I have baser motives for wanting to quit -- like boredom, annoyance, and frustration -- and so have usually talked myself out of it, at least until I can find another job.

Sammy's disappointment after walking out of the a&P probably indicates his realization of his true motives, as well. His final realization of how hard the world will be on him now could also represent his growing wisdom as an adult. I think it is more likely, however, that he realizes the error he made in quitting for such an impulsive reason, and worries what life will be like for him as an sexually driven adult. I can identify with this worry, too......

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