Sammy's Failure To Quit Of A & P

Considering the conventional, social, political, and economic situation around that era, is easier to understand Sammy’s frustration and why he quit his job. It was a time of the civil rights movement, Cuban missile crisis, and the post-war. Furthermore, it was the time of financial crisis for the A&P company in the 1960s. According to the History of A&P, despite the company was successful leading up to the 1960s, some alarming trends started to surface, “the company’s conservative was not in tune with the retail boom” (History of A&P). Besides, the company’s founding brothers had died, and the company went public; resulting in a shortage of capitals, which instigated a “period of stagnation from which the company never recovered” (History of A&P). Moreover, because A&P operated in city concentrated zones rather than the evolving suburbs their stores were “stale and sales were flat…and the Midwestern division (including Massachusetts were struggling” (History of

He stood up for what he believed in which was Lengel being at fault and maintained his position of being to be the “unsuspected hero” by quitting; moreover, the fact that Sammy’s name was revealed after the said he was quitting indicate how invisible he was to everyone. Despite being conscious that his actions would have great side effects, he felt the need to disrespect Lengel the worst way possible “Fiddle de doo”(Updike). Sammy’s grandmother taught him how to stand up for himself. Granted that she was barely mentioned in the story, that fact that he indicated “my grandmother would’ve been proud” showed how much his grandmother supported his uniqueness, integrity and standing up for what he believes in. Despite Sammy’s epiphany of “how life would be hereafter,” he shows maturity in self-evaluating the situation. Sammy quitting was an act of bravery, confidence, and strength; also, it was an act of wisdom because he embraced his identity for the first