Choices and Repercussions
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The theme of John Updikes “A&P” is of one that everyone can relate. He tells a story of a young man named Sammy who is a checkout clerk at an A & P supermarket north of Boston, Mass. During the story Sammy is observing three young ladies in bikinis walking around the store shopping. The story concludes by the ladies being reprimanded by the manger and Sammy quitting. Updike follows a theme where for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
John Updike uses Sammy to show that for each choice made there is a consequence equal to the choice. When Sammy quits his job after Lengel embarrasses the girls, Sammy realizes life will become much harder for him. If Sammy were to quit every time a situation that he did not like or agree with arises life would become increasingly complicated, because of his poorly thought out rash decisions he would be branded a trouble maker or a misfit in the area where he lives. He would also be looked down on because of his individuality. Updike shows that quitting will not solve the problem but in turn will make life much more difficult because of the social repercussions.
John Updike uses “Queenie” and her friends to show the repercussions of them entering a store without the proper attire. During the 1960s, the time period where story takes place, the social normal for women was to wear dresses, hats, and gloves to hide most of there sexuality while in public. The girls used there youthful enthusiasm to push the limits of decency set at the time. The girls in turn suffer the penalty of wearing there bathing suits into public place such as the local grocery store. The unexpected brush with an authority figure has possibly frightened the girls into accepting the community norms, thus halting any other attempts at nonconformity.
Updike uses Lengel as an example where he loses an employee when he confronts the girls who are not adequately dressed. Lengel comes into the scene when the girls are at the checkout counter getting ready to exit the store when he speaks harshly to them causing the girls embarrassment. As a reaction to Lengels first action Sammy quits in hopes of being the hero to the girls. As a result unforeseen by Lengel he has to pick up where Sammy has quit. Lengel could have walked on by and left the ladies as they were but Lengel represents the management system, a policy of decency,