Character Study: Consequences Faced by Sammy in John Updike's A&P

This essay provides an analysis of John Updike's short story, A&P, focusing on the character of Sammy, a nineteen-year-old store clerk. The essay explores Sammy's romantic and cynical nature and his impulsive decision to quit his job in a gesture of chivalry towards three girls. It examines the consequences of Sammy's immaturity and his struggle with morality, freedom, and authority. The analysis contrasts Sammy's character with the shop manager and highlights the potential impact of his actions on his family. Ultimately, the essay delves into the complexities of Sammy's character, questioning whether his actions were truly heroic or simply immature, while also providing insight into the themes of responsibility and the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Running head: ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
English Assignment
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
A&P by John Updike
The short story A&P by John Updike portrays the character of Sammy, the protagonist of
the story. This young assistant of the study makes a remarkable, but useless gesture for
impressing a group of girls (Spark 2017). The ironic ending of the story is the major plot used in
this essay. The thesis statement of the study is to identify the consequences faced by Sammy due
to his chivalrous act and immaturity. The story starts with the description of Sammy who is a
nineteen years old boy and quite romantic and cynical in nature. The entire story reflects his
point of view and feelings towards others (Devi 2014). The other characters in this story are
described in terms of his perceptions. The entire story is about the struggle of Sammy with
morality, freedom, and authority. It started when three girls entered the shop dressed in swimsuit
to buy a jar of snacks.
Sammy started providing judgments about the looks of those girls that made him
infatuated with Queenie, one of those girls. It is also noticed that the shop manager reprimands
the girls for their dressing at that moment. Sammy started defending those girls in order to
impress them, which made him more immature (Kennedy 2006). The failed gesture provides the
amusing ironic end and it depicts the well-intentioned act that backfired. Sammy quit the job,
which was an impulsive decision. Sammy worked for A&P grocery store for quite a long time.
He took such immature decision for impressing those girls, but they did not even notice his
gestures. Sammy’s act clearly reflected his teenager mentality (Gale 2015). He was forced to
believe that his immature actions could meet a fatal consequences and he needed to have the
sense of responsibilities.

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ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
The story is entirely focusing on the characterization of Sammy as a protagonist of the
plot. The contrasting characters of the shop manager and Sammy made this story clearer to the
readers. The story is in fact introducing the different aspects of life by shedding lights on the
diverse acts of Sammy. It is noticed that the Shop Assistant was just few years older than
Sammy, but he had more matured thoughts than him. Moreover, it was known that Sammy’s
family relied on his earnings and by quitting the job for the sake of those girls was quite an
immature decision. The story sometimes reflects the heroic trait of the protagonist with all his
innocence and immaturity. Therefore, some scenes can create the argumentative statements
about whether Sammy was true her. In spite of presenting the true act of heroism when he stood
up for his conscience. He did not like the way when everyone started making those girls feel
embarrassed. He showed his protective side as a person, which was quite commendable.
However, on the contrary, his immature decision of quitting the job in spite of knowing his
responsibility towards his family was considered as an act of immaturity.

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ENGLISH ASSIGNMENT
References
Devi, K.L., 2014. Short Stories Of John Updike A Discursive Study.
Gale, C.L., 2015. A Study Guide for Updike's A & P. Gale, Cengage Learning.
Kennedy, X. (2006). Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 5th
ed. Pearson.
Spark, D., 2017. Finish It, Finish It: Options for Ending a Story. Southern Review, 54(1), pp.148-
168.