Short Story Analysis
James Householder
Professor McGriff
Introduction to Literature
5 AUG 2013
Sammy is Folly’s Fool in Updike’s “A&P”
In John Updike’s short story “A&P” an 18 year old store clerk named Sammy first objectifies and then attempts to champion three half naked girls who come into the grocery store and disrupt the typically mundane scene. His subsequent irrational behavior first appears to be just an attempt to impress the girls whose alluring nature has gained his attention. However, upon closer examination his “heroic” act is more selfish - a knee jerk reaction to pent-up sexual energy, a desire to rebel against his boring job, lame adults, and dissatisfaction with his social position. Ultimately, the quirky story uses Sammy’s misguided actions to show how impulse, naivety, and emotion can affect the decision-making process and reminds readers of the consequence that can follow if not kept in check.
Updike opens the story and sets Sammy on a path of self-destruction with this catchy line: “In walk these three girls in nothing but bathing suits”(149). The opening, which almost sounds like the first line to a joke, places emphasis on “nothing” indicating the attitude towards the girls dress or in this case, lack of. These lines not only convey the idea that they are scantily dressed, but that it is way out of place for the usually conservative setting. Of course readers are hooked and curiosity demands to find out where this leads. Sammy’s ogling of the girls soon ensues and he gives a detailed description of the first girl he sees “She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it”(149). The description, focused mostly on her butt, sees Sammy eye-balling her from head to toe and ignites the sexual tension that soon plays a role in influencing his actions. After further description of the first, Sammy gives a short but critical review of the second object of the curious trio. And then with the use a dash between the text, Updike creates a dramatic pause before Sammy announces “And then there was the third one, that wasn’t quite so tall” (150). The purposeful pause clues readers to the fact that as Sammy sees it, there is something that sets this girl apart from the others, and then as if announcing the arrival of royalty confirms “She was the queen” (150). Her position as the leader is further exemplified by placing her two attendants in a demure posture by describing “the other two girls peeking around and making their shoulders round” (150). Sammy is particularly taken aback by the queen’s shoulder straps that were hanging off her “white” shoulders. Sammy refers to her “white” shoulders twice and previously described her legs as “long white prima-donna legs” (150). The use of the color white implies purity. Artistic symbolism can be further seen in the Sammy’s reference to the “shining rim” of white flesh above her breast caused by her slipping top (150). This symbolizes a halo of sorts that has taken up a more likely position for the mind of an 18 year old boy. Anyone familiar with art may also recognize the line “She held her head so high her neck, coming up of those white shoulders, looked kind of stretched” as a reference to the renaissance painting “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino (150). Updike does a masterful job of presenting all of these visual elements to create the “queens” image, a titillating mix that stimulate Sammy into action. Sammy is no doubt entranced by the barefoot angel with her straps off her shoulders, her beauty and purity exciting him, her arrogance and daring causing a conflicting irritation.
Sammy’s excitement and frustration is a major contributor to his self inflicted demise, but his attitude towards the patrons, his co-workers and his boss also appear to play a role as well. Sammy’s negative attitude is present from the beginning. When he was first distracted by the girls entry and forgot if he rang up a customers crackers he was chastised by a “witch about fifty” (150). This negative outlook towards the patrons continues throughout the story with other similar descriptions such as “The sheep pushing their carts down the isle” “a few houseslaves in pin curlers” and “what do these bums do with all that pineapple juice” (151-152). Sammy even expresses disdain for the man behind the meat counter for “sizing up the girls joints” (151). The only one who he considers as a peer is twenty-two year old Stokesie, another clerk that shared in a very brief skit of sentiment over the girls, but Stokesie “with two babies chalked up on his fuselage already” only adds to Sammy’s sexual frustration (151). The reference to Stokesie’s two children sounds like Sammy is keeping score, and “chalked up on his fuselage” is reminiscent of marks on a bedpost and somewhat phallic. Having identified sexual tension and an attitude towards others in the story as factors leading up to the climax (Sammy’s irrational act) there is yet another underlying factor to point out; that is Sammy’s views on his station in life in comparison to what he imagines for the girls.
The stage for Sammy's heroics is set when upon reaching his checkout counter, “Queenie" places a jar of “Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks” on the counter and draws the attention of the store manager Lengel who Sammy depicts as “pretty dreary, teaches Sunday school and the rest” (152). Sammy seems to regard Lengel as just another one of the “green and cream” squares that surround him. Lengel fusses at the girls for wearing their bathing suits into the store to which “Queenie” replies “My mother asked me to pick up a jar of herring snacks” (152). When Sammy hears her voice, deceptively telling of her upbringing, he is instantly transported to her house where he envisions her parents and their friends, fancily dressed, eating “herring snacks on toothpicks off a big glass plate” and drinking fancy drinks (152). In contrast, Sammy characterizes his parent’s gatherings as the “lemonade” type or maybe “if it is a real racy affair Schlitz in a tall glass with cartoons stenciled on”(152). The fact that her mother sent her in also speaks to the more liberal nature of her “kind” Her mother evidently condoned the activity further reinforcing the idea that they are more progressive - which he wants to be. So Updike has laid the foundation for what drives Sammy to react the way he does – he, a simple grocery store clerk from a dull family, is all spun up over the sexy young girls from the progressive high-class society and surrounded by lame people in a lackluster job. It doesn’t take much to pop the top of this shook up brew.
That eruption came when Sammy sees the girls embarrassed by Lengels berating and feels like he must do something to elevate himself in their eyes - to be “their unsuspected hero”(153). So before they leave the store Sammy blurts out “I quit” (153). Lengel questions his judgment, but he had reached the point of no return. Sammy shares his thought on the matter with a nonchalant assertion: “But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture its fatal not to go through with it” (153). Although the risk were quickly calculated and accepted Sammy’s judgment is emotionally driven and he feels like he must do something; to not act would be further acceptance of the status quo. Sammy quits and leaves the store to find the girls. “They were gone of course” (153). The “of course” in this line shows that Sammy upon seeing that they had left, felt that it was “just his luck” and the futility of his attempt at heroism starts to set in. Turning around to see his boss in his position at the cash register, the consequences of his actions are soon realized and it hits him hard. Sammy sees this as a defining event that will set the course for his life to come. His final words are: “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (154). This is a notable point of the story because it is an exaggerated response on par with the misguided passions of an immature young man driven by lust and impulse (Dessner 315,317). The wise will know that this does not have be such a defining event to the course of Sammy’s life if he learned a lesson that day.
Sammy let Impulse get the better of him – acting just for acting’s sake, letting frustration and the sexual energy incited by the girls cloud his judgment, he makes a rash decision and is now faced with a future that he is certain will be difficult. The story, as simple in message as it is, serves as a reminder to the mature and a warning to the less experienced to keep impulse and emotions under control or suffer the consequences.
Works Cited
Updike, John. “A&P.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. 149-154. Print.
Dessner, Lawrence Jay. "Irony And Innocence In John Updike's 'A & P'." Studies In Short Fiction 25.3 (1988): 315. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 July 2013.
Professor McGriff
Introduction to Literature
5 AUG 2013
Sammy is Folly’s Fool in Updike’s “A&P”
In John Updike’s short story “A&P” an 18 year old store clerk named Sammy first objectifies and then attempts to champion three half naked girls who come into the grocery store and disrupt the typically mundane scene. His subsequent irrational behavior first appears to be just an attempt to impress the girls whose alluring nature has gained his attention. However, upon closer examination his “heroic” act is more selfish - a knee jerk reaction to pent-up sexual energy, a desire to rebel against his boring job, lame adults, and dissatisfaction with his social position. Ultimately, the quirky story uses Sammy’s misguided actions to show how impulse, naivety, and emotion can affect the decision-making process and reminds readers of the consequence that can follow if not kept in check.
Updike opens the story and sets Sammy on a path of self-destruction with this catchy line: “In walk these three girls in nothing but bathing suits”(149). The opening, which almost sounds like the first line to a joke, places emphasis on “nothing” indicating the attitude towards the girls dress or in this case, lack of. These lines not only convey the idea that they are scantily dressed, but that it is way out of place for the usually conservative setting. Of course readers are hooked and curiosity demands to find out where this leads. Sammy’s ogling of the girls soon ensues and he gives a detailed description of the first girl he sees “She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it”(149). The description, focused mostly on her butt, sees Sammy eye-balling her from head to toe and ignites the sexual tension that soon plays a role in influencing his actions. After further description of the first, Sammy gives a short but critical review of the second object of the curious trio. And then with the use a dash between the text, Updike creates a dramatic pause before Sammy announces “And then there was the third one, that wasn’t quite so tall” (150). The purposeful pause clues readers to the fact that as Sammy sees it, there is something that sets this girl apart from the others, and then as if announcing the arrival of royalty confirms “She was the queen” (150). Her position as the leader is further exemplified by placing her two attendants in a demure posture by describing “the other two girls peeking around and making their shoulders round” (150). Sammy is particularly taken aback by the queen’s shoulder straps that were hanging off her “white” shoulders. Sammy refers to her “white” shoulders twice and previously described her legs as “long white prima-donna legs” (150). The use of the color white implies purity. Artistic symbolism can be further seen in the Sammy’s reference to the “shining rim” of white flesh above her breast caused by her slipping top (150). This symbolizes a halo of sorts that has taken up a more likely position for the mind of an 18 year old boy. Anyone familiar with art may also recognize the line “She held her head so high her neck, coming up of those white shoulders, looked kind of stretched” as a reference to the renaissance painting “Madonna with the Long Neck” by Parmigianino (150). Updike does a masterful job of presenting all of these visual elements to create the “queens” image, a titillating mix that stimulate Sammy into action. Sammy is no doubt entranced by the barefoot angel with her straps off her shoulders, her beauty and purity exciting him, her arrogance and daring causing a conflicting irritation.
Sammy’s excitement and frustration is a major contributor to his self inflicted demise, but his attitude towards the patrons, his co-workers and his boss also appear to play a role as well. Sammy’s negative attitude is present from the beginning. When he was first distracted by the girls entry and forgot if he rang up a customers crackers he was chastised by a “witch about fifty” (150). This negative outlook towards the patrons continues throughout the story with other similar descriptions such as “The sheep pushing their carts down the isle” “a few houseslaves in pin curlers” and “what do these bums do with all that pineapple juice” (151-152). Sammy even expresses disdain for the man behind the meat counter for “sizing up the girls joints” (151). The only one who he considers as a peer is twenty-two year old Stokesie, another clerk that shared in a very brief skit of sentiment over the girls, but Stokesie “with two babies chalked up on his fuselage already” only adds to Sammy’s sexual frustration (151). The reference to Stokesie’s two children sounds like Sammy is keeping score, and “chalked up on his fuselage” is reminiscent of marks on a bedpost and somewhat phallic. Having identified sexual tension and an attitude towards others in the story as factors leading up to the climax (Sammy’s irrational act) there is yet another underlying factor to point out; that is Sammy’s views on his station in life in comparison to what he imagines for the girls.
The stage for Sammy's heroics is set when upon reaching his checkout counter, “Queenie" places a jar of “Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks” on the counter and draws the attention of the store manager Lengel who Sammy depicts as “pretty dreary, teaches Sunday school and the rest” (152). Sammy seems to regard Lengel as just another one of the “green and cream” squares that surround him. Lengel fusses at the girls for wearing their bathing suits into the store to which “Queenie” replies “My mother asked me to pick up a jar of herring snacks” (152). When Sammy hears her voice, deceptively telling of her upbringing, he is instantly transported to her house where he envisions her parents and their friends, fancily dressed, eating “herring snacks on toothpicks off a big glass plate” and drinking fancy drinks (152). In contrast, Sammy characterizes his parent’s gatherings as the “lemonade” type or maybe “if it is a real racy affair Schlitz in a tall glass with cartoons stenciled on”(152). The fact that her mother sent her in also speaks to the more liberal nature of her “kind” Her mother evidently condoned the activity further reinforcing the idea that they are more progressive - which he wants to be. So Updike has laid the foundation for what drives Sammy to react the way he does – he, a simple grocery store clerk from a dull family, is all spun up over the sexy young girls from the progressive high-class society and surrounded by lame people in a lackluster job. It doesn’t take much to pop the top of this shook up brew.
That eruption came when Sammy sees the girls embarrassed by Lengels berating and feels like he must do something to elevate himself in their eyes - to be “their unsuspected hero”(153). So before they leave the store Sammy blurts out “I quit” (153). Lengel questions his judgment, but he had reached the point of no return. Sammy shares his thought on the matter with a nonchalant assertion: “But it seems to me that once you begin a gesture its fatal not to go through with it” (153). Although the risk were quickly calculated and accepted Sammy’s judgment is emotionally driven and he feels like he must do something; to not act would be further acceptance of the status quo. Sammy quits and leaves the store to find the girls. “They were gone of course” (153). The “of course” in this line shows that Sammy upon seeing that they had left, felt that it was “just his luck” and the futility of his attempt at heroism starts to set in. Turning around to see his boss in his position at the cash register, the consequences of his actions are soon realized and it hits him hard. Sammy sees this as a defining event that will set the course for his life to come. His final words are: “I felt how hard the world was going to be to me hereafter” (154). This is a notable point of the story because it is an exaggerated response on par with the misguided passions of an immature young man driven by lust and impulse (Dessner 315,317). The wise will know that this does not have be such a defining event to the course of Sammy’s life if he learned a lesson that day.
Sammy let Impulse get the better of him – acting just for acting’s sake, letting frustration and the sexual energy incited by the girls cloud his judgment, he makes a rash decision and is now faced with a future that he is certain will be difficult. The story, as simple in message as it is, serves as a reminder to the mature and a warning to the less experienced to keep impulse and emotions under control or suffer the consequences.
Works Cited
Updike, John. “A&P.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ed. Alison Booth and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. 149-154. Print.
Dessner, Lawrence Jay. "Irony And Innocence In John Updike's 'A & P'." Studies In Short Fiction 25.3 (1988): 315. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 July 2013.