The short story “A & P” by John Updike is a descriptive short story. Updike writes the story from a viewpoint of a young man, about 19 years old, named Sammy who works as a cashier at a supermarket. The story contains many descriptive phrases about the three young girl’s flesh. For example, .”..
a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit, at the top of the backs of her legs” (14).
I found this story enjoyable to read because it was very descriptive about the surroundings. The story begins when Sammy sees the three girls in their swim suits. He watches the three girls behind his register. While he was admiring the three girls he was also ringing a customer at the same time. “I stood there with my hand on a box of HiH o crackers trying to remember if I rang it or not ” (14).
I can relate to Sammy’s situation because I’m also a cashier and I’m at the front of the store and customers just come up to me and ask random questions and I forget if I rang the merchandise I was holding. Most customers are very understanding but I do get some that are like the cash-register-watching old lady. I don’t consider anyone the same just because of one experience from a particular customer. While reading the story I found that there were many thought processes that are similar to adolescent boys. An example can be seen in the end of the second paragraph when he gives his interpretation of what happens in a girls mind. Sammy makes a simile to a bee buzzing in a glass jar.
The Essay on Ideal Woman In Kincaid’s Short Story “Girl”
In an endeavor to define an ideal woman, we compare two Literature works which are the Kincaid’s short story “Girl” and Jane Martin’s play, “Rodeo”. Comparing these two works, we see two contrasting definitions of an ideal woman as they are brought out in different settings. In the Kincaid’s short story, “Girl”, we notice for instance that a girl should live a humble life that is respectful to all ...
“You never know for sure how girl’s minds work (do you really think it’s a mind in there or just a little buzz like a bee in a glass jar” (15)? After reading his comment it made me hate his character because a mature person would never make a low statement that is so thoughtless. But as I read more into the story I made a connection towards Sammy. The author of the story gave clues that points Sammy as an admirer towards the three girls in the supermarket. I think that most maybe not all gentlemen at that age and maturity level feel similar ways towards the opposite sex. The passage,” … you know, the kind of girl the other girls think is very striking and attractive but never quite makes it, as they very well know, which is why they like her so much…
.” (15).
It shows that he observes his surroundings. Overall I liked the story and it was very descriptive and the author did a great job bringing me in the supermarket. I was able to hate the main character, named Sammy, and at the same time sympathize with him. I think that John Updike’s main theme was about growing up, being independent, making decisions on our own, and being responsible for the consequences.
A person around us has different expectations for us and being decisive and a little selfish, is the idea in Sammy’s life.
