A P by John Updike free essay sample

Small Town Hero In his short story A P John Updike focuses on a 19-year-old immature teen to show us how a young boy gets one step closer to adulthood, or atleast thinks he does. Sammy, who is an A P checkout clerk, talks to the reader with blunt first person observations, which sets the tone of the story from the beginning. The setting of the story shows us Sammys position in life and where he really wants to be. Through the characterization of Sammy, Updike uses a simple heroic symbol to teach us that actions have consequences and we are responsible for our own. Sammy is a 19-year-old boy showing off a cocky but cute male attitude. He describes three girls entering the A P, which sets the tone of the story. In walk these three girls in nothing but bathing suits. There was this chunky one, with the two piece-it was bright green and the seams on the bra were still sharp and her belly was still pretty pale 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 hadnt quite frizzed right ou know the kind of girl other girls think is very striking and attractive but never quite makes it She was the queen with long white prima-donna legs. We will write a custom essay sample on A P by John Updike or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page (85) Completely distracted by the girls, Sammy rings a box of HiHo crackers twice, maddening the customer. He describes her as being One of these cash-register-watchers, a witch of about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows, and I know it made her day to trip me up, sarcastically showing his opinionated attitude toward women. We learn about Sammys location in life through the setting of the story. He is not a big time war hero or superstar but a checker at a small town A P, not moving up in his job or down, simply staying put. The town is located north of Boston, five miles from a beach, with a summer colony on the Point. Sammy is ready to make a change. He wants to be part of the girl’s world. Sammys thoughts give us some insight on his feeling that the girls, just like the rich summer colony they came from, are out of his reach. All of a sudden I slid right down her voice into her living room. Her father and all the other men were standing around in ice-cream coats and bow ties. When my parents have somebody over they get lemonade and if its a real racy affair Schlitz in tall glasses with Theyll Do It Every time cartoons stenciled on. (86) The girls are buying a jar of Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks as Lengel, the store manager and Sunday school teacher, criticizes their dress, Girls this isnt the beach. (87) The queen answers, My mother asked me to pick up a jar of herring snacks. Lengel continues to harass the girls. Girls, I dont want to argue with you. (87) After this come in here with your shoulders covered. Its our policy. Sammy, now having had enough of Lengel embarrassing the girls, takes what he considers â€Å"heroic† type action announcing, I quit. Taking off his apron and bow tie, Sammy leaves the store with a final ring of NO SALE. (87) He is hoping the girls will give some sign of recognition to his heroic act on their behalf, yet they do not. Sammys act of quitting is described as the response of the still uncorrupted, because he has not learned the sad wisdom of compromise†. Updike successfully shows that our actions have consequences through Sammy who was trying to take a stand on a small but heroic attitude. He is ignored by the wealthy girls and ends up without a job in the end. With a single act he achieves a new honor, one that leaves him from his bland conservative environment and abandons him, not with a suddenly developed sympathy to the wealthy, but with a loneliness that signals his birth into separation and solitude. Sammy looks for the girls who have already gone. He sees a young married woman, yelling at her children and realizes, How is the world going to be to me here after. (88) Works Cited