In the short story “A&P” by John Updike, the readers are shown the life of an impressionable teenager named Sammy and given a glimpse of his mental process when three young women in bikinis enter his place of work. These three girls, which he names Queenie, Plaid, and Big Tall Goony-Goony, quickly become the most exciting thing about his dull job at the convenience store A&P. Unable to take his eyes off their partially exposed bodies he watches as they move from aisle to aisle up until they approach the checkout counter. When all of a sudden the conservative manager Lengel confronts the ladies and makes remarks on their inappropriate attire, stating that if they wish to wear bikinis they should be at the beach. As the embarrassed girls leave the store insulted, Sammy stands up to his blunt manager for the rude words he exchanged to the women he’s been obsessed with. It is then that Sammy determines that his best move is to quit his job as a statement he hopes will greatly impress the girls. And after more conversation occurred between Sammy and his boss, he becomes even more strongly rooted in his decision to terminate his A&P career. Unfortunately, as Sammy goes outside to meet the …show more content…
When looking from Sammy’s point of view it is clear his intentions were pure. He was obviously infatuated with the three girls and thought his course action was well founded. However in the end, his decision to quit was a poor choice indicating his impulsive nature and lack of critical thinking. As a fellow teenage boy, I can sympathize with his decision and admittedly I too would seek their approval. Yet, I would not go as far to quit my job because I know I shouldn’t jeopardize my source of income. Standing up for what you believe in is admirable and although it was not a wise decision it is the course of action he thought most noble and