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A & P By John Updike Summary

1574 Words7 Pages

Eli Norman
1020 English
Dr. Beach
31 March 2017
Historical/Cultural Studies
When thinking about culture, it has been evolving ever since we were born. From clothing to technology to just everyday life, culture changes almost regularly. If you ask your parents about the culture that they lived in when they were kids they would tell you that it was completely different from the one that we live in now. Even if you were to ask them about a certain thing, they would tell you that it has developed and changed rapidly, or isn’t even around anymore. In many stories, the time period of the story, is usually described by the things that are done, that are said, and even seen in the story. In A&P by John Updike, the author uses symbolism to show disregard for cultural standards by not wearing proper clothing in a public area.
Cultural studies is the study field of theoretical and political cultural analysis that concentrates on contemporary culture. It is based around a culture’s historical foundation, it’s traits, and conflicts. Cultural studies researchers generally investigate how cultural practices relate to wider systems of power associated with or operating through social phenomena. Cultural studies views cultures not as fixed, stable, and discrete entities, but rather as constantly interacting and changing sets of …show more content…

He had felt bad for how the girls had been treated by the store manager. The way that the manager had embarrassed them, Sammy did not want to work for someone like that so he decided it would be best to quit. By him doing this, it also symbolizes how the culture was during the 60’s time period. Many people wanted peace in our country due to the Vietnam War happening and some to grant civil rights to African Americans. Many were against these things which led to many protests. When relating it to A&P, it shows how Sammy was against the treatment of the three girls in the store, which is why he

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In “A&P”, John Updike wrote a short story about a male clerk at A&P grocery, named Sammy, who worked at a hot summer day shift when three young women in his age entered the store only in swimsuits to purchase some snacks. Even though shirts and shoes are required, Sammy did not report on the girls to the manager, but instead he allowed them to continue shopping as he looked and imagined the girls based on their appearance. As Sammy watched, Lengel, the store manager, felt that the three girls did not had shirts and shoes on, reprimanded them the rules, which the manager thought Sammy reported on them. Sammy did sign out after the girls left, which he not just realized the three girls’ affection, also was disappointed on this

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Identity is the fact of being who or what a person or thing is. In both short stories, the characters struggle with injustices of society. In A&P by John Updike, the main character Sammy is a sexist, rude and chauvinistic young man who judges three young girls who walk into the store by their physical appearances and learns that conforming to societies norms isn't right. Also, in the short story The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara the main character Sylvia is an inner city kid who gets taken to FAO Schwartz and learns the lesson that African Americans and White people aren't equal. Both short stories highlight that the world isn't fair to people, and you have to make a difference to change it.

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As the girls walk into the story and wander around, the conflict comes up when Sammy notices the customer 's body language and observations of disgust and shock when they see the unusual clothing outfit of the girls. The conflicts arise even more when the manager notices the girls dressed inappropriately, and scolds them when he comes up to them. As the manager asks them to leave, Sammy sees the altercation and stands up for his beliefs and the girls; resulting in the quitting of Sammy of her job due to their disagreements. 5A key moment in the story of A&P is when Sammy directly tell Lengel that he quits [his job.] When Lengel hears what Sammy says, he attempts to compromise with Sammy on his decision of quitting his job at the store.

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