A & P - The Other Side of Teenagers

In the story, A&P, John Updike uses many forms of literature to imply and convey certain messages to his readers. The story mainly consists of a 19 year old boy, Sammy, working in a grocery store who makes observations on the “sheep” in the store, as well as these three girls that walk in with only bathing suits on, of which the story revolves around. It gives you a sort of inside perspective to the …

…society, seeing it from the outside, making observations about how they flock together and so mechanically. Concerning society, one also learns how people are separated by their social rank and as such, view each other in different manners, usually degradingly. Finally, Updike shows how adulthood doesn’t come by itself, it must be earned and realized. Even if when in reach, one must make the leap for it and suffer the consequences that may follow.