Analysis concepts and methodologies

¶ … Sammy in "A&P"

In John Updike's short story, "A&P," Sammy quits his job because he wants to make a good impression on the girls. He is young and forming his own impressions about things and it should come as no surprise that he find Lengel's attitude toward the girls overly strict. His request for the girls to cover their shoulders causes Sammy to think, "That's policy for you. Policy is what the kingpins want. What the others want is juvenile delinquency" (Updike 1420). Here we see that Sammy is adopting the typical teenage stance that all adults are attempting to ruin every teenager's life. He quits primarily to impress the girls but an underlying reason behind quitting is the fact that he wants to stand up against overbearing adults like Lengel. However, there is more to this decision because when Sammy has the opportunity to turn around and go back to the store, he does not. Even after Lengel makes the comment he does about his parents, Sammy still decides to stick to his beliefs. Sammy knows what it means if he quits his job and he does it anyway. The fact that he continues to walk out the door even after the girls have left the store indicates that he is growing up. He is, in short, becoming an adult. In a sense, Sammy does become the hero that he wants to become whether or not the girls will ever realize it simply because he had the courage to follow through with his impulse.

Updike successfully creates a complete image of Sammy because we see him make an autonomous decision that reaps him absolutely no rewards but he does it anyway. He can be considered a hero of sorts in that he does stand up for what which he believes. Regardless of whether or not his ideas are logical, he is forming ideas and opinions and standing up for them. There is no doubt the act of quitting is impulsive and there is not doubt that, initially, Sammy does it for the girls. In fact, he admits that he hopes to become their "unsuspected hero" (1420). When Sammy pitches his work apron to the counter, he is alone with no one applauding him. In addition, it is safe to assume that the girls are never aware of his action. However, this is the kind of thing that creates a teenager. Bravado coupled with an attitude is what teenage angst is all about and Updike captures these characteristics perfectly in Sammy. Sammy does not have any cheerleaders waiting for him after he boldly quits the A&P but he has established for himself a type of bravery for which he will always remember and more than likely, call upon later in life as he realizes that with almost everything, an element of unfair exists. Sammy's desire is simply to be a hero for the girls but his action results in much more than that. He becomes a hero in his own mind for standing up for what he considers something important. This makes him a well-rounded character because it helps readers identify with him even though he is unaware of how significant his action is at the moment.