Growing Pains

A detailed Summary of Growing Pains

Sammy, Maggie, and the boy narrator of "Araby" personate three different adolescent points of views. The boy from "Araby" represents how an adolescent can act foolish over love. Maggie represents an adolescent scarred by a horrific experience. Finally, Sammy represents the adolescent that wants more.

First, the boy from "Araby" represents what foolish things adolescents will do for love. It was the mighty power of love that blinded him. From the beginning of the story it is learned that he is in love with Mangan's sister: "Her image accompanied me even in places the most hostile to romance," (James Joyce, pg. 83). In addition, it was written: "Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand," (pg. 83). Love made him so weak that when he finally spoke to her he raced to some place, that he knew nothing about, to buy her a gift. Then, he blocked out reality and locked himself in his own realm. The author wrote:

"What innumerable follies laid waste my waking and sleeping thoughts after that evening! I wished to annihilate the tedious intervening days. I chafed against the work of school. At night in my bedroom and by day in the classroom her image came between me and the page

Last, Sammy represents the adolescent that wants more. He does not like his status in life. He gets intrigued by the three girls that walk in the A&P. The girls walk in wearing nothing but bathing suits. His eyes, and every one else's, are glued to the girls strutting around. He envies that the girls are in the spot light. The author wrote: "The sheep pushing there carts down the aisle-the girls were walking against the usual traffic (not that we have one-way signs or anything) - were pretty hilarious" (John Updike pg. 28).Further, it also says: "But there was no doubt, this jiggled them. A few houseslaves in pin curlers even looked around after pushing their carts past to make sure what they had seen is correct" (pg.28). Eventually, the girls go to his check out slot to pay for their item. This is Lengal's cue to enter the story. When he notices the girls, and how unmoral they look, he attacks them. It is written: "Lengal's pretty dreary, teaches Sunday school and the rest, but he does not miss that much. He comes over and says, 'Girls, this isn't the beach'" (pg. 29).Sammy now thinks this is his time to impress these outsiders and rescue them. He speaks the infamous words: "I said I quit," (pg. 30). The sad part is that the girls did not even care that he put everything on the line for them. The girls raced out of the store and left the machine they cal

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Approximate Word count = 919
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English