Unconscious Rebellion Rationalized by Sammy

Unconscious Rebellion Rationalized by Sammy

“A&P” is a short story written by John Updike. It is about Sammy, a young male cashier who rebels against his manager. In my opinion while reading, Sammy is somewhat hypocritical and idealistic. He thinks that by rebelling against his manager, he is defending for every individual who walks into the old grocery store. However, deep down he does know what he is doing, and he is just rationalizing. A presumption about Sammy can be made that he is having unconscious emotions for Queenie. These unconscious emotions are causing him to be idealistic. In addition, it does result to him making a decision, without first acknowledging the consequences that follow.

The short story begins when Sammy watches three girls walk into the A&P. The girls have on nothing but a bathing suit go hide their delicate figures. Sammy is closely observing the girls; trying to analyze the girls personably. Two of the three girls that Sammy observes are nothing out of the ordinary. “She was a chunky kid, with a good tan and a sweet broad soft-looking can with those two crescents of white just under it, where the sun never seems to hit … with one of those chubby berry-faces, the lips all bunched together under her nose … and a tall one, with black hair that hadn’t quite frizzed right … and a chin that was too long--you know, the kind of girl others think is very ‘striking’ and ‘attractive’ but never quite makes it … (27)”

However, the third girl catches Sammy’s superfluous attention, noticing how she was more pretentiously elegant. “She was the queen. She kind of led them … She didn’t

look around, not this queen, she just walked straight on slowly, on these long white prima donna legs … putting down her heels and then letting the weight move along to her toes

as if she was testing the floor with every step, putting a little deliberate extra action into it … and now she was showing them how to do it, walk slow and hold yourself straight … She had on a … bathing suit … what got me, the straps were down. They were off her shoulders looped loose around the cool tops of her arms, and I guess as a result of the suit had slipped a little on her, so all around the top of the cloth there was this shining rim. If it hadn‘t been there you wouldn‘t have known there could have been anything whiter than those shoulders. With the straps pushed off, there was nothing between the top of the suit and the top of her head except just her, this clean bare plane of the top of her chest down from the shoulder bones … it was more than pretty. (27)” Psychologically speaking Sammy is getting aroused by Queenie; and is unconsciously beginning to feel a little affectionate towards her. It could also be possible that Sammy is attracted to how Queenie is carrying herself as a leader, in control of whatever is around her.

Lengel, the manager at the A&P, notice the girls and is displeased. He comes over to give them their first warning about their inappropriate attire. “… he concentrates on giving the girls that sad Sunday-school-superintendent stare … ‘We want you decently dressed when you come in here.’ (29)” Because Sammy admires Queenie, Lengel embarrassing the girls angers him: “You didn’t have to embarrass them. (30)” This is where Sammy is showing immaturity, because he is not being considerate of Lengel’s aspects.