Times are changing, but many of life’s lessons are timeless as demonstrated in John Updike’s short story “A&P.” Updike’s story takes place in the early 1960’s, just as the women’s liberation movement begins. A few of the primary themes of this short story relate to gender inequality, power, sex, ethics and individualism.
The story takes place in a small New England grocery store chain with Sammy, a 19 year- old boy, narrating. It begins to unfold when 3 beautiful teenage girls strut into the grocery store wearing only a swimsuit. Heads turn, they not only have the attention of every man in the store but every woman as well. The girls march through the store as if they own the place, yet they give the impression that they are unaware of all of the stares they are receiving from the men in the store. This attitude exemplifies the sexual power that
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The story does not specifically state his principles, but a reader can predict some of them by viewing his actions. For example, it easy to speculate that Sammy respects people who are not afraid to break from tradition, who think for them and go against the norm. This is exemplified by the encounter Sammy has with his church-going, rule following store manager. Lengel believes the public deems it appropriate for him to publicly humiliate and threaten those who challenge his principles while Sammy views it as unethical and unacceptable to treat the girls like that for doing something that was out of the norm. Cleverly, John Updike gives us a lusty 19-year old boy as a narrator and uses him to perform what Updike calls "an act of feminist protest." He illustrates this as Sammy quits his job in protest of the girls not being allowed to wear their bathing suits into the local A&P. The girls’ action can be viewed as a feminist protest as well, by wearing their bathing suits in public they go against normal standards set by