Description in A&p

Description in a short story is used to portray things such as a person’s character, the theme of the story and the world in which the person lives. The short story “A & P” by author John Updike has descriptions to help bring out the meaning of the story. The character Sammy is inspired by a girl he names Queenie, and upon first sight her beauty captivates him. “[Her] straps were down. They were off her shoulders looped loose around the cool tops of her arms”(p. ). Sammy’s character is a romantic one, as the descriptions of the girls, co-workers and customers show that he is very emotionally aware. As soon as three girls walk into the grocery store, everyone notices their arrival: “[i]n walks these girls wearing nothing but bathing suits…[t]hey didn’t even have shoes on” (p. ). These girls are unlike any other character in the story; They