A & P By John Updike Setting

In the short story A&P by John Updike, the main character Sammy who works at the cashier register in the A&P- (which is a super market), is the protagonist. There are three girls the A&P in the middle of town around the mid to late 90’s, in bathing suit. Making the dressing completely unnecessary in that sort of setting. Especially since it’s in the middle of town nowhere near the beach. Everyone-well the few that are there- are ogling at their bodies and attire. Lengel informs them about their indecency. Sammy- who was initially in love with Queenie and sexist- sides with the three girls especially Queenie. Although Sammy then realizes that their human as well and, shouldn’t be treated differently because of appearance is different. Queenie leads to him quitting his job after realizing his behavior was quite ardent and the situation he got in was unfair to himself.

“‘Is it done?’ he asks, the responsible married man finding noise”… “What he meant was, our town was five miles away from the beach,” “…but we’re right in the middle of town, and the woman generally put a shirt or shorts or something before they get out of the car into the street.”(A&P by Updike, page 17) This indicates that their attire is very unfit to be wearing to be wearing in public nowhere near the beach. “…so the girls come to me. Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold.”(A&P by Updike, page 17)… “Now her hands are empty, not a ring or a bracelet, bare as God made them, and I wonder where’s the money coming from. Still with that prim look she lifts a folded dollar bill out of the hollow at the center of her nubbled pink top. The jar was heavy in my hand. Really, I thought it was so cute.”(A&P by Updike, page 17) Queenie is trying to beguile Sammy in a way and, it’s working. Let’s get real here-sometimes love can render people blind (even if it’s only based on appearance). Although Sammy does realizes she is quite a