Interpretations of Characterization
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Interpretations of Characterization
Character can be described with a combination of qualities or features disguising one person from another. In the story “A&P” by John Updike Sammy, the first person narrator is used in portraying an in depth view of the story starting off as a young man with ordinary adult surroundings and moves to his need to change and is seen as typical, rebellious teenager and who is easily distracted by the appeal of three girls that come into the store. The author uses Sammy to link food items in the store to develop characterization with store manager, Lengel, the customers and the three girls. Updike uses representations of symbols that are intertwined within the characterization of Queenie and the other girls. Assumptions are made by the functions of characterization as well, which Updike uses to give depth to the short story. The theme seems to be the desire for power Updike shows this through the actions of his characters.
While tending to his duties Sammy interprets the first customer as a “witch about fifty” and a cash-register watcher”. He says that ot makes her day to see him make a mistake. At this point it becomes clear he doesnt particularly care for the cutomers. He makes the mistake because his eye is caught by three bikini girls in the store. The unusual site of the three girl gives Sammy some excitement as compared to the usual customers that come in. The three girls are emphasised as youthful, high class and appealing through the items they choose to look at and buy. After dismissing the first two girls as chubby and unattractive, he focuses his attention on Queenie the leader of the posy. Queenie is a mixture of precocity and innocence, .
After Sammy objectifies the girls and finding that sense of freedom in their beauty, his maturity rises as he notices McMahon, the butcher, ” patting his mouth and looking after them sizing up their joints”.