The author illustrates Sammy's contempt for those who conform through his reactions to the A&P customers. The way Sammy interprets the first lady's reaction to his mistake of ringing up the HiHo crackers twice is immediately negative. "She's one of these cash-register-watchers, a witch about fifty with rouge on her cheekbones and no eyebrows..."1 He instantly jumps to the conclusion that she is glad to have caught him making a mistake, "I know it made her day to trip me up"2. He labels her a "witch" which demonstrates his lack of respect for her. The other customers are generally christened as "sheep". Sammy uses the name "sheep" to imply that the customers are bland and unthinkingly conforming. At another point, he refers to them as "scared pigs in a chute"3.

Sammy sees Lengel as a dreary conventionalist; Lengel supports the ideals of society and is therefore in direct conflict with Sammy. You can almost sense Sammy's frustration. It is likely that he finds his life at the store dull, colorless, and boring. Sammy's rebellion against Lengel is the direct result of his desire to resist and escape conformity and the expectations of society. The author uses the A&P store to symbolize the conventions of society and he uses Lengel as the focus of the conflict. In an attempt to make a statement against conformity, Sammy challenges Lengel's criticism of the girls. Sammy's disrespect, lack of loyalty, and disregard for Lengel, are entirely based on his desire to escape. He probably doesn't think poorly of Lengel "He's been a friend of my parents for years"4; he just doesn't like what he stands for. Lengel is very patient with Sammy, trying to explain to him that he shouldn't make such a quick decision, and that there will be consequences to his decision. Sammy even has to admit to himself that Lengel is right. However, he feels too committed to his resolution already. "It seems to me that once you begin a gesture it's fatal not to go through with it."5 The author is commenting on the rebellious nature of the desire to escape.

This also illustrates his lack of respect for them. Sammy's desire not to conform has colored his view of anyone he suspects of conforming. He assumes that

Some common words found in the essay are:
Lengel He's, John Updike, Sammy Lengel, Updike A&P, Outside Sammy, Stewart Ltd, , desire escape, expectations society, nature desire escape, nature desire, john updike, lack respect, updike a&p, escape story, sammy's desire, a&p customers,
Approximate Word count = 971
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)