A lot of the times people search for what is important or meaningful in their lives. Therefore, their quest leads them to unknown places that requires them to be aware of situation around them that can potentially change their lives forever. Therefore, the central theme or universal lesson of “A&P” by John Updike is that all people should not follow blindly to the status quo by rather should aspire to be themselves because we all have distinct gifts to give society. Nevertheless, sometimes doing the right thing is not always easy, partly because we are not always awarded and appreciated for it. First, conformity in the 1950s was common, as young and old alike followed group norms rather than striking out on their own. According to former president John F. Kennedy, “conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth”, so despite the material wealth acquired after the war: individuals could not express themselves because of the status quo. Thus, limiting the distinct differences of the individuals who did not conform to culture at the time. For instance, sheep has no distinct ability to fend off predators and not even elude an attack from any other animals that may try to capture them. For example Updike explains, “The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle-and the girls walking against the usual traffic” (162). This showed that the …show more content…
His father who was burning barns down when felt wronged by the aristocrats that he worked for as a sharecropper. According to class discussion, Sarty knew when wrestling out of his mother arms to run tell Major de Spain that his barn was about to be burned down by his father: he knew then that he could not look back (Faulkner 271). Therefore, showing that doing the right thing is not always easy nor