An Analysis of John Updikes A&P Essay -- A&P Essays JOhn Updike Paper

An Analysis of John Updikes A&PIn his short stage A & P John Updike utilizes a 19-year-old adolescent to show us how a male child gets one step closer to adulthood. Sammy, an A & P check-out procedure clerk, talks to the reader with blunt first person observations setting the tone of the story from the outset. The setting of the story shows us Sammys position in life and where he really wants to be. Through the characterization of Sammy, Updike employs a simple heroic gesture to teach us that actions have consequences and we are responsible for our own actions. Sammy is a 19-year-old boy conveying a cocky but cute male attitude. He describes three girls entering the A & P, setting 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 lifelessness sharp and her belly was still pretty pale...there was this one, with one of those chubby berry-faces, th e lips all bunched together under her nose, this one, and a tall one, with black hair that hadnt quite frizzed righ...