John Updike’s A&P: An Overview
John Updike’s short story, “A&P,” is a celebrated and enduring work of American literary fiction. It provides a thought-provoking look into societal tensions and personal awakening, inviting readers to explore its complexities and rich narrative through various interpretations.
Publication and Historical Context
John Updike’s seminal short story, “A&P,” first captivated readers upon its publication in The New Yorker on July 22, 1961. This timing places the narrative squarely within a transformative period in American history, characterized by evolving social norms and the rise of consumer culture.
The story’s setting in an A&P supermarket, a ubiquitous symbol of emerging middle-class suburbia, reflects the burgeoning mass ethic of a consumer-conditioned society in the early 1960s. This era saw traditional values increasingly challenged by youthful rebellion and changing expectations regarding personal freedom and expression. Updike masterfully captures the undercurrents of desire and nonconformity prevalent among the youth, contrasting them with the more rigid societal structures represented by older generations. The narrative subtly explores the friction between individuality and the pressures to conform, themes highly resonant during a time of significant cultural shifts and burgeoning counter-cultural movements. Its immediate reception solidified its place as a significant commentary on American life.
Quick Plot Summary
Three girls in bathing suits enter an A&P supermarket, shocking cashier Sammy. The manager, Lengel, admonishes them for their attire. Sammy, attracted to one girl and feeling indignant, impulsively quits his job in protest, realizing the immediate consequences of his rebellious act.
The Incident: Girls in Bathing Suits
The story’s pivotal event begins with the unexpected entrance of three young women into the A&P supermarket. From the opening line, “In walks, these three girls in nothing but bathing suits,” Updike immediately establishes the unusual nature of their appearance in this mundane setting. A cashier named Sammy, the story’s nineteen-year-old narrator, is completely shocked by this scene, as it is highly uncommon to see customers dressed in swimwear inside a grocery store in a small New England town. The girls, described vividly through Sammy’s eyes, command immediate attention with their casual defiance of unspoken social norms. Their presence disrupts the routine of the store and its “sheep”-like customers, drawing every eye and sparking a silent but palpable reaction among the staff and shoppers. Sammy’s observations, told in his distinctively colloquial and present-tense voice, highlight their impact. He notes their “sexual power” causing him to make a mistake at the register, underlining the immediate disruptive effect their unconventional attire has on the ordinary course of business and his own perception. This incident sets the stage for the ensuing conflict and Sammy’s subsequent actions, marking a clear departure from the supermarket’s usual monotonous rhythm.
Sammy’s Initial Reaction
Sammy’s initial reaction to the girls in bathing suits is a complex mix of youthful fascination, burgeoning desire, and his characteristic cynical commentary. From the moment they enter the A&P, his attention is completely captivated, and he struggles to focus on his work, even making a mistake with a customer’s purchase. His internal monologue, delivered in a colloquial and present-tense voice, immediately begins to categorize and judge the girls, particularly “Queenie,” based on their appearance and demeanor. He perceives their “sexual power” and their unconventional attire as a bold defiance of the mundane A&P environment. While he objectifies them, observing their physical attributes in detail, there’s also an underlying sense of admiration for their uninhibited presence. He contrasts them sharply with the store’s regular “sheep” customers, viewing the girls as something extraordinary and out of place in his ordinary world. This immediate impact hints at his deeper longing for something different in life, beyond the confines of his grocery store job. Their arrival thus serves as a catalyst, sparking a significant internal shift within him as he grapples with their disruptive, yet alluring, presence.
Lengel’s Confrontation
Lengel, the store manager and a figure of traditional authority, decisively confronts the three girls for their inappropriate attire. His intervention is driven by a desire to uphold the A&P’s established social conventions and maintain order within his domain. He approaches them at the checkout, explicitly stating that the store is “not a beach” and that their bathing suits are unsuitable for shopping. His tone is firm and admonishing, reflecting his role as the guardian of community standards and decorum. This public dressing-down causes “Queenie” to blush out of embarrassment, indicating a moment of self-consciousness and perhaps a realization of the effect their appearance has had. Lengel’s actions highlight the clash between youthful rebellion and the expectations of a more conservative society. He represents the older generation’s rigid adherence to rules, contrasting sharply with the girls’ casual disregard; His confrontation is a pivotal moment, actively forcing the girls to acknowledge their transgression and setting the stage for Sammy’s subsequent impulsive decision. This incident underscores the tension between individual expression and societal conformity within the mundane setting of the supermarket.
Sammy’s Decision to Quit
Witnessing Lengel’s public shaming of the girls, Sammy experiences a surge of rebellious indignation. His decision to quit is an impulsive act, driven by a complex mix of youthful idealism, a desire to defend the girls, and a burgeoning rejection of the A&P’s conformist atmosphere. He throws off his apron, making a grand gesture of defiance against Lengel’s rigid authority and the mundane societal expectations the manager represents. Sammy hopes to make an impression, particularly on Queenie, by standing up for what he perceives as an injustice; However, his act of rebellion is met with the stark reality that the girls have already left, leaving him alone with the consequences. Immediately, a “sense of dread” washes over him as he steps out into the parking lot. This moment marks a significant turning point, a coming-of-age realization that “the world was going to be hard to me hereafter.” His impulsive decision to quit symbolizes his transition from a passive observer to an active, albeit naive, participant in defying social conventions, initiating his journey into the complexities of independent adulthood and the harsh realities of personal choices.
Character Analysis: Sammy
Sammy, the story’s 19-year-old cashier, serves as the central consciousness. His casual, cynical, and often humorous narration reveals his observations of the mundane world around him. He is a disillusioned grocery store worker, whose internal thoughts drive the narrative forward;
Sammy’s Colloquial and Cynical Voice
Sammy’s distinctively colloquial voice is immediately apparent from the story’s opening line, “In walks, these three girls in nothing but bathing suits.” Updike masterfully establishes his narrative style, predominantly in the present tense, making the reader feel as though Sammy is speaking directly. This casual, conversational tone is a hallmark of his character, offering a vivid stream-of-consciousness. Sammy’s observations are frequently laced with cynicism, providing a humorous yet critical perspective on the mundane world of the A&P supermarket and its inhabitants. He often refers to his customers dismissively as “sheep,” highlighting his detached and somewhat contemptuous view of their conformity. His internal monologue is rich with sardonic wit, such as his comment about a particular customer deserving to be “burned over in Salem” if born at a different time. This blend of humor and disdain vividly captures everyday life through the eyes of a disillusioned 19-year-old. Even in small details, like describing the apron and bow tie as “theirs if you’ve ever wondered,” Sammy’s unique, slightly irreverent voice shines through, conveying his inner conflict and setting a striking realist tone.
Sammy’s Objectification and Defense of Girls
Sammy’s initial reaction to the girls in bathing suits is steeped in a form of objectification, viewing them primarily through a lens of physical attraction and their sexual power. He meticulously observes their appearance, noting the details of their “plaid” suit and the way they command attention, causing him to make a mistake at work. This portrayal touches upon the theme of male objectification of women, which is central to “A&P.” However, Sammy’s perspective is not entirely one-dimensional; despite his initial disdain and the way he reduces them to physical attributes, he ultimately acts in their defense. When Lengel, the store manager, publicly admonishes the girls for their attire, Sammy perceives this as an unjust humiliation. His subsequent decision to quit his job is an impulsive act of youthful rebellion, driven partly by a desire to make an impression on Queenie and partly by a nascent sense of chivalry. This complex interplay shows Sammy, despite his immature observations, challenging societal expectations, demonstrating a conflicting blend of objectification and an emerging sense of justice. Updike brings to light the realistic nature of desire found in youth, even if controversial.
Sammy’s Coming-of-Age and Dread
Sammy’s journey in “A&P” is fundamentally a coming-of-age narrative, vividly capturing the tension between youthful rebellion and the stark reality of adulthood. His impulsive decision to quit his job, driven by a blend of defiance and a desire to challenge authority, acts as the pivotal moment in his personal growth. Prior to this, Sammy is a typical teenager, cynical and detached, observing the world and its “sheep” from behind his checkout counter. However, his act of defiance, while heroic in the moment, quickly leads to a profound realization of its consequences. As the girls disappear and the store falls silent, Sammy is left to face the “hard world” that lies before him. This moment of clarity, where he feels a palpable sense of “dread,” signifies his abrupt entry into the complexities of adult responsibility and the stark realities of defying social conventions. Updike illustrates how Sammy grows from a passive observer to someone who makes a significant, albeit costly, stand, forcing him to confront the tension between youthful idealism and the unforgiving practicalities of life, exploring themes of identity and personal growth.
Character Analysis: Lengel and The Girls
Lengel embodies rigid authority and societal norms within the A&P. The girls, with their bathing suits, boldly challenge these conventions, commanding attention and setting in motion the story’s central conflict and Sammy’s significant decision.
Lengel’s Role as Authority Figure
Lengel, the manager of the A&P, stands as the quintessential authority figure within the story’s confined supermarket setting. He embodies the rigid adherence to societal norms and expectations prevalent in the small New England town. His sudden appearance, interrupting Sammy’s observations, marks a critical turning point as he confronts the girls in their bathing suits. Lengel’s role is to uphold the store’s, and by extension, the community’s standards of decorum and respectability. He sees the girls’ attire as a blatant transgression, an inappropriate display that disrupts the conventional atmosphere of a grocery store. His admonishment, delivered with a sense of moral rectitude, is not merely about a dress code; it’s about enforcing an established order against what he perceives as a challenge to decency and tradition. He acts as a gatekeeper of propriety, highlighting the generational and cultural clash between the older, conventional world he represents and the emerging, more liberated youth. His actions, while perhaps well-intentioned from his perspective, are viewed by Sammy as a petty exercise of power, ultimately sparking Sammy’s impulsive act of rebellion. Lengel’s character effectively symbolizes the forces of conformity that youth often push against, making him a central antagonist to Sammy’s burgeoning individuality.
The Girls’ Appearance and Impact
The arrival of the three girls in “nothing but bathing suits” immediately disrupts the mundane atmosphere of the A&P, serving as the central catalyst for the story’s events. Their casual attire, a stark contrast to the supermarket’s conventional setting, instantly draws the attention of Sammy and his coworker, Stokesie. Updike highlights their appearance as a powerful visual, commanding immediate notice and creating a palpable sense of tension and desire within the store. Sammy is “completely shocked by this scene,” describing their confident stride and the details of their swimwear with vivid, often objectifying, observations, reflecting the “realistic nature of desire.”
The girls, particularly the one Sammy dubs “Queenie,” exert a significant impact through their striking presence. They embody a youthful, uninhibited spirit that directly challenges the established decorum and traditional values of the small town. While their “sexual power” commands attention and causes Sammy to make a mistake at work, one girl’s blush suggests a degree of innocence and perhaps an unawareness of the profound societal effect they are having. Their appearance directly provokes Lengel’s confrontation, setting the stage for Sammy’s impulsive act of rebellion. Ultimately, the girls’ bold entrance symbolizes a youthful defiance that forces Sammy to confront his own position within society and his aspirations for something beyond his current reality.
Setting and Symbolism
The A&P supermarket, set in a small New England town, serves as a crucial backdrop. It symbolizes the common denominator of middle-class suburbia and the mass ethic of a consumer-conditioned society, examining individuality versus conformity through its everyday setting.
The A&P Supermarket as a Setting
The A&P supermarket serves as the quintessential setting for John Updike’s “A&P,” a small New England town grocery store crucial for fully understanding the story’s themes and conflicts. Far from a mere static backdrop, it powerfully represents the “common denominator of middle-class suburbia,” and effectively symbolizes the “mass ethic of a consumer-conditioned society.” Within its mundane, fluorescent-lit aisles, the narrative dramatically unfolds, sharply contrasting the vibrant, unconventional presence of the girls in bathing suits with the predictable, routine lives of the “sheep”-like customers. This environment highlights the rigid social expectations prevalent in such a community. The sterile layout and familiar products of the A&P embody the very conformity Sammy observes and ultimately chooses to challenge. It is precisely within these everyday confines that the fundamental clash between individual desire and societal norms is vividly brought to life. Updike masterfully utilizes this seemingly unremarkable setting as a powerful instrument to examine deeper questions about individuality versus conformity in American society, making the supermarket itself a silent, yet profoundly significant, participant in Sammy’s crucial coming-of-age rebellion and his subsequent realization of consequences.
A&P as Symbol of Consumer Society
The A&P supermarket in Updike’s story functions as a potent symbol of a consumer-driven society and its pervasive influence. M. Gilbert Porter aptly identifies the A&P as the “common denominator of middle-class suburbia,” perfectly embodying the “mass ethic of a consumer-conditioned society.” This environment, with its standardized products and routine transactions, reflects a world where conformity is subtly enforced; The customers, often described by Sammy as “sheep,” represent a populace conditioned by consumerism, moving through life with an unthinking adherence to established norms. The supermarket’s very existence, catering to everyday needs, underscores the powerful commercial forces shaping modern life and individual behavior. Through Sammy’s cynical observations and ultimate act of rebellion, the A&P becomes a microcosm illustrating the tension between individual expression and the homogenizing pressures of a consumer culture. His decision to quit, spurred by the confrontation over the girls’ attire, directly challenges the unspoken rules inherent in this consumerist backdrop, thereby highlighting societal norms that dictate appearance and conduct. The story powerfully uses the A&P to critique pervasive societal expectations and the values arising from a consumer-oriented existence.
Major Themes
John Updike’s “A&P” explores profound themes including youthful rebellion against adulthood, the clash between individuality and conformity, and the complexities of male objectification and societal expectations. The story delves into personal growth and identity within a consumer society.
Individuality Versus Conformity
John Updike’s “A&P” keenly explores the tension between personal freedom and societal expectations. Sammy, the cynical cashier, views his customers as “sheep,” highlighting his disdain for their routine conformity. The girls’ bathing suits disrupt the A&P’s mundane order, challenging consumer society’s mass ethic. Lengel, the manager, embodies rigid conformity, publicly admonishing the girls and enforcing traditional values. Sammy’s impulsive decision to quit is a pivotal act of rebellion against this stifling conformity. It represents an assertion of his burgeoning individuality, defying established social conventions and authority. His resignation, partly attraction-fueled, is a symbolic rejection of the expected path. This act carries immediate, stark consequences. Sammy’s “sense of dread” underscores the harsh reality of diverging from norms, emphasizing the personal cost of defying a world demanding adherence.
Youthful Rebellion and Adulthood
John Updike’s “A&P” vividly captures the tension between youthful rebellion and the harsh reality of adulthood. It functions as a compelling coming-of-age narrative, charting Sammy’s transformation from a typical teenager to an individual defying social conventions. His impulsive decision to quit his job, motivated by defending the girls and asserting his independence, powerfully exemplifies this youthful defiance. Updike illuminates the realistic nature of youthful desire, often controversial to traditional values. However, this defining act quickly introduces Sammy to adulthood’s unyielding consequences. Upon leaving the A&P, he is struck by a profound “sense of dread,” reflecting on “how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter.” This poignant realization signals his entry into the world where choices carry tangible repercussions, exploring personal growth and the harsh lessons learned transitioning from adolescent idealism to mature understanding.
Male Objectification and Societal Expectations
John Updike’s “A&P” powerfully explores the intersecting themes of male objectification and rigid societal expectations. Sammy, the young protagonist, immediately observes the girls in their bathing suits with a gaze rooted in their physical appearance, revealing his adolescent fascination and a form of objectification, even as he later defends them. His internal narrative exposes an immature perspective, where he and his coworkers discuss the girls, focusing on their “sexual power” and the stir they create.
The story also subtly critiques the societal pressures on female attire and conduct within public spaces. Lengel’s public reprimand of the girls underscores a clash between their youthful freedom and the conservative norms of the small New England town supermarket. Their visible embarrassment, particularly the “blushing” of the leader, suggests an innocence and perhaps unawareness of the full impact of their presence, contrasting with Sammy’s idealized or objectifying perceptions. Updike thus illuminates how individual desires and societal conventions collide, often with significant consequences for all involved.
Literary Style and Critical Interpretations
Updike’s “A&P” employs a realist style, vividly capturing everyday life through Sammy’s stream-of-consciousness narration. This distinct approach invites diverse critical interpretations, analyzing its themes and literary devices.
Realist Style and Stream-of-Consciousness
John Updike’s “A&P” masterfully employs a realist style, vividly depicting the mundane yet significant details of everyday life within a small New England supermarket. This approach grounds the narrative in a relatable setting, making Sammy’s observations and internal struggles feel authentic. The story is predominantly told through Sammy’s distinctively colloquial and often cynical voice, which is a hallmark of the stream-of-consciousness technique. From the opening line, “In walks, these three girls in nothing but bathing suits,” Updike immediately establishes Sammy’s immediate, unfiltered perspective. His present-tense narration creates an immersive experience, as if the reader is privy to his real-time thoughts. Sammy’s humorous yet sharp observations, like his internal labeling of customers as “sheep,” reveal his disillusioned outlook and contribute to the story’s realism. The stream-of-consciousness style effectively conveys Sammy’s inner conflict and adolescent desires, showcasing his coming-of-age moment. Updike’s linguistic precision in crafting Sammy’s voice, including endearing details such as his comment about the bow tie, highlights the author’s keen attention to character psychology and realistic dialogue. This stylistic choice allows for a deep dive into Sammy’s subjective experience, making his impulsive decision resonate powerfully with themes of youth and societal expectations.