P & A
John Updike's A&P illustrates how a few short moments in a person's life can change the outcome forever. The actions, speeches, and comments of others in the story influence the main character Sammy to make a life changing decision. Sammy is a complex character with many personality traits that were brought out by the actions of others. In the first part of the story an old lady at the cash register started giving Sammy problems when he rung up the box of crackers twice while drooling on three girls. Sammy suggests that "if she had been born at the right time they would have burn her in Salem" (344). By suggesting that the lady would have been burned made Sammy seem immature. Sammy was not patient with the lady which goes back to him being a teenager that didn't care about his job. The only thing he was worried about was the girls that just walked in. Being a teenage boy, the way Sammy was "checking out" the girl in bathing suits was only natural. The intense investigation of each girl is what defines Sammy's personality. He describes each girl in detail showing that he is an imaginative person while also showing that he is not very worried about his work. As he traces every step the girls ma
2 This personality trait of Sammy's shows him to be a bit sexist, but not overtly so as to get on one's nerves. One may conclude that Sammy quitting shows immaturity, especially the circumstances surrounding his quitting. By quitting Sammy shows his courage by taking his destiny into his own hands. He has no idea what the future has in store for him and he knows that his actions will hurt his family, but he can no longer stand to lead such a mundane existence. He is stepping out of the store into a world where he can not know the future but he can know that he will not waste his life being ordinary. He is above all else being true to himself and this personality trait can only be described as bravery. Bravery is the best personality trait a man can have. Day, and Robert Funk. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice, 1999. 344-348. comes over to the check out line were Sammy in checking the girls out and, embarrass the girls by scolding them and saying "girls this is not the beach" (346). Sammy notices that Queenie was blushing. This to Sammy is the injustice that tops all other injustices in the world. For Lengel to make his ray of light "Queen" blush is the straw that breaks the camels back for Sammy. After ringing the girls up, Sammy said "I q
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 956
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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