Introduction
John Updike’s story A&P, first published in 1962, is a complex discourse about gender expectations and norms in society. The author describes how the protagonist’s actions reflect a patriarchal culture that perpetuates gender inequality between men and women. To remove the constraints that existed in that society, women needed to challenge patriarchy and fight for their rights.
Story Summary
John Updike tells the story of a boy named Sammy who works at a grocery store called A&P. On one working day, three young women in swimsuits enter the shop and attract Sammy’s attention (Updike). While the boy admires the beauty of the ladies, his boss, Langel, humiliates them for their clothing style, which the boy does not like. In protest, he resigns from his job without regret.
Application of Feminist Theory
Feminist theory in literature focuses on how patriarchy shapes gender roles in society, and Updike’s story is no exception. The story’s central theme is expressing the male view and objectifying the girls, whom men estimate only by their appearance. Nor are girls allowed to have self-determination outside of their relationships with men, as restrictions prevent them from doing so.
The A&P showcases a grocery store to highlight the contrast and patriarchy of power, which limits girls’ freedom in all aspects. The store acts as an allegory that shows the building as a market that controls women’s lives. Women have many cultural expectations that men create, manage, and head women’s lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the feminist view of John Updike’s story A&P reveals the fullness of the constraints imposed on women in a patriarchal society. The display of a male look in a grocery store can be interpreted as an exaggerated expectation of the female sex and their objectification. The story criticizes the gender norms established by society and encourages girls to fight for their rights, which are suppressed by male bias.
Work Cited
Updike, John. A&P. Redpath Press, 1986.