Introduction
“A&P” is a short story by John Updike that revolves around the perspective of Sammy, a young man working at a grocery store. The piece is symbolic and demonstrates how one character rebelliously rejects the principles of a small town and focuses on their future without being afraid of change. At the end of the story, the readers see how the protagonist quits his job as a cashier at A&P and is ready for a new journey in his life. While being afraid of what is to come, he is more afraid of spending his life working at the store where he is disrespected as both a person and an employee. Thus, the reasons for Sammy’s resignation are his personality, confrontation with his boss, and conformist community, symbols of rejection of monotonous life and routine.
Sammy’s Observations and Insights into His Character
From the beginning, the readers see Sammy’s personality and his disgust and frustration with the work he has to do. First, the author illuminates the disrespect of other customers who were “giving [Sammy] hell” (Updike 1). Due to being in this toxic environment, the protagonist even becomes critical of the people around him and uses sarcasm to express his emotions. For example, he calls the angry customer “a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows” (Updike 1).
In such situations, it becomes evident that Sammy is not ready to accept and adapt to such a setting. Moreover, he daydreams to escape the monotonous reality. For instance, on a less busy day, the young man admits that “there was nothing much to do except lean on the register and wait for the girls to show up again” (Updike 3). Such a personality is utterly incompatible with the work Sammy had to do. Due to being more rebellious and wanting a more exciting life, Sammy’s decision to quit reflected the unsatisfying reality in which man had to exist.
The Impact of Sammy’s Speech on Reader Perception
The confrontation with his employer, Lengel, is another reason the protagonist impulsively decides to resign. This was the catalyst for Sammy to set priorities in his life. At first, the young man sees three girls entering the store in bathing suits, which makes Sammy feel immediately drawn to them and fantasize about their lives (Updike 2). However, once Lengel enters the scene, the situation changes. Sammy’s boss believes such attire is unacceptable for young girls who enter his store. As Lengel emphasizes, they must be “decently dressed” and cover their shoulders (Updike 3).
As mentioned, Sammy has a rebellious nature, and as a result of such a confrontation, the protagonist feels embarrassed and angry with his employer. In this situation, Sammy’s decision to quit was somewhat of a protest against Lengel’s treatment of the young girls. The young man was not ready to observe or listen to such an attitude of a grown person toward teenagers.
Sammy’s Motivation to Quit and a Reflection of His Personality
Sammy’s frustration with the conformist and monotonous community was the last reason he quit his job. Throughout the story, the readers can feel that time does not exist in Sammy’s reality. On the one hand, the unchanging community can be seen in the small town’s residents.
Sammy’s employer, Lenger, is described by the young man as a person who is “pretty dreary, teaches Sunday school and the rest, but he doesn’t miss that much” (Updike 3). On the other hand, the protagonist emphasizes that the environment is always the same with married couples, crying children, and angry customers (Updike 5). Therefore, the local community rejected any signs of change and believed that one’s life revolves around work and family.
Sammy’s decision to quit his job can be seen as rejecting this lifestyle. The young man is tired of the routine and wants to break free. He claims, “Once you begin a gesture it’s fatal not to go through with it” (Updike 5). By resigning after his employer’s confrontation, Sammy is taking a stand against the conformity of the A&P and the town itself.
Conclusion
Hence, Sammy’s personality, the argument with his boss, and the conformist community are the causes of his resignation and serve as a metaphor for the rejection of a boring lifestyle and routine. Sammy’s attitude and his contempt and anger with the work he must do are immediately apparent to the readers. A person with such a personality cannot possibly undertake the work Sammy was required to do.
Sammy’s decision to leave reflected the man’s unhappy reality because he was more rebellious and desired a more interesting life. The confrontation with the protagonist’s employer, Lengel, is another factor that contributed to the man’s rash decision to resign. In some ways, Sammy’s choice to leave was a protest against Lengel’s abuse of the young ladies. The last reason the young man quits his job is the protagonist’s dissatisfaction with the dull and conformist community. Sammy’s choice to resign from his work can be interpreted as rejecting this way of life.
Work Cited
Updike, John. A&P. The New Yorker, 1961.