A P By John Updike Character Analysis - 818 Words

This story could make one wonder, how far would you go to get the person of your dreams. In Updike’s story, three young ladies walk into the AP store wearing nothing but bathing suits. The girls catch the attention of Sammy who is the cashier. Sammy watches the girls walk around the store while making mental notes about each one of the girls. When Mr. Lengel the store manager sees the girls, he lets them know that the store policy is to have your shoulders covered and to dress appropriately when you enter the store. This conversation upsets Sammy, so in the moment Sammy spontaneously quits his job in hopes of being the girl’s hero. After Sammy takes off his apron and walks out the door he looks around, but the girls have already gone.†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"We want you decently dressed when you come in here† (Updike 145) Mr. Lengel stated. Queenie replies â€Å"We are decent,† (Updike 145), almost as if she was justifying her actions. This als o shows the adolescent frame of mind. Sammy decides to stand up for what the thinks is right. â€Å"Outraged that his manager, Lengel, had made ‘that pretty girl blush’ and wanting to demonstrate his refusal of such demeaning authority, Sammy quits his job on the spot.† (Saldivar p2) Sammy thinks to himself, â€Å"The girls and who’d blame them, are in a hurry to get out, so I say ‘I quit’ to Lengel quick enough for them to hear, hoping they’ll stop and watch me, their unsuspected hero† (Updike 145). After Sammy makes it clear that he is quitting Lengel says, â€Å"Sammy you don’t want to do this to your Mom and Dad† (Updike 146). Sammy then takes off his apron and bowtie, he lays them on the counter as he is walking out the door Lengel barks, â€Å"You’ll feel this for the rest of your life† (Updike 146). Sammy then walks out of the store, he looks around for the girls, but they are already gone. Updike ends the story in a place that might make one wonder if Sammy did feel the effects of quitting this job for the rest of his life, and did he ever get the girl and end up the hero he intended to be? I believe that Saldivar summarizes it by saying â€Å"The modern artist knows that his human desired for completion, for perfection—whichShow MoreRelatedCharacter Analysis Of A P By John Updike1141 Words   |  5 PagesThe narrative â€Å"AP† by John Updike explicitly takes you into the world of the main character, Sammy. When you first meet Sammy, it seems as though he gives the reader a straightforward explanation as to why he quits his job at the grocery store. He even goes as far as to blame his actions on how Lengel, the manager, embarrassed the girls in the store. Upon Sammy defending the girls, he refers to himself as their â€Å"unsuspected hero†, however some may not see this as fit. Upon closer examination, itRead MoreA P By John Updike1190 Words à ‚  |  5 PagesA P is a story of Sammy who is a 19 year old boy working as a clerk at a grocery store in a small town in New England. Published back in 1961 narrative defining A P is the popular mythology of 1960s basically where youthful rebellion powers took over the soulless system. (Sustana) Therefore Updike has written a story that includes key elements of myth along with the background of postwar prosperity and the attendant consumer culture. Where there is a strong hint of the Cold War as hero characterRead MoreAP and Cathedral Comparison Essay1617 Words   |  7 PagesMallory Russell 06/12/15 Comparison Essay ENG 102 Online â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver versus â€Å"A + P† by John Updike In the short stories â€Å"Cathedral† by Raymond Carver and â€Å"A + P† by John Updike the protagonists experience an epiphany that change their restricted way of thinking. The main character, â€Å"Sammy† in John Updike’s, â€Å"A + P† is a teenage boy working in the town grocery store. Sammy experiences an epiphany when he decides to quit his job at the grocery store. He quit because he believedRead MoreThe Revolution of The Young People: John Updike Essay1193 Words   |  5 PagesIn John Updike’s â€Å"AP†, the revolution of the young people of the current age against authority is explored and explained. â€Å"AP† reveals the shift from conservative and deferential to avant-garde and disrespectful. Through the observation of the behavior of the characters in the story, one can receive a clear picture of the evolution of the sexual revolution that has come in this age. Sammy is the first character that is introduced, he is the protagonist and narrator of the story. Stoksie and LengelRead MoreA P By John Updike1441 Words   |  6 PagesJohn Updike is considered one of the greatest writers in modern American history. 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Nevertheless, I agree with Anne Lamott’s thoughts that â€Å"a story’s climactic event should show a profound change in at least one of the characters.†In this essay, there will be comparisons and analysis between Anne Lamott’s wide descriptions about writings and two short stories by John Updike and Gail GodwinRead MoreCharacter Analysis Sammy1030 Words   |  5 PagesCharacter Analysis Sammy Text â€Å"AP† by John Updike In the story of â€Å"AP† by John Updike Sammy is the narrator. He is a nineteen year old young man who portrays a normal teenager by having a summer job like most teenagers do. He had a common summer job at a grocery store. He held the position as a cashier throughout the story until he ended up having a dynamic change. Throughout most of the story his actions would be considered assertive to most readers. He is very particular with every detail